Labourlabouring

In the early years of last century we see the Liberal Party, at that point the alternative party of power to the Tories, tear itself apart on the Irish Question and open the door to being replaced by the young Labour Party. Some of the Liberals supported an Irish parliament and even Irish home rule and some joined with the Tories against it.

We move forward today and see history being repeated in the behaviour of the Labour Party in Scotland as it destroys itself.

As the Tory government in London inflicts austerity on the UK, attacks benefits, mismanages the NHS in England and starts a privatisation process of it (which has very significant consequence for Scotland), Labour in Scotland, formed to defend the people against the Tories, joins with the same Tories in running councils and spends most of its time in Parliament and through its influence in the media ignoring the enemy its supporters expect it to oppose while attacking the SNP.

It has become a tool of the UK establishment and completely lost the plot. It is hardly surprising that huge elements of traditional Labour support has moved to the SNP and the process is accelerating.

If the likes of Keir Hardie, James Connolly, John Mclean and James Maxton and all those other pioneers who provided the fire for a radical vision of a better selfgoverning Scotland were leading Labour in Scotland today, I know exactly what they would be doing. They would be leading Scotland to independence.

DAVID MCEWAN HILL

Sandbank, Argyll