From Tom Gordon today:
Labour’s candidate in the Rutherglen & Hamilton West by-election has promised to tackle the scourge of low pay in the area as he accused the SNP of hypocrisy over workers’ rights. Campaigning alongside Scottish leader Anas Sarwar, Michael Shanks said Labour wanted to end zero-hours contracts, extend sick pay and raise the minimum wage if it wins power.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23808638.labour-accuses-snp-hypocrisy-workers-rights-rutherglen/
Do they think the voters of Rutherglen and Hamilton West will believe this if it’s in the Herald? I guess they do and worryingly, some may well do so.
The candidate knows he’s trying to fool folks on behalf of a small powerful elite. He’s a Modern Studies teacher! Shouldn’t he be trying to reveal truths?
He has, sadly, got something. The SNP does seem to have recruited zero hours workers to deliver leaflets. Which idiot thought to do that? Why didn’t they just use the Post Office?
Anyhow, it’s nothing being conveniently made into something by Labour and their media pals.
Here are the facts again.
First on low pay:
In another of his many u-turns, to woo the right and be presented as business friendly, Sir Keir Starmer plans to introduce a variable minimum wage – with workers considered less worthy receiving only a basic amount.
See this from the leftist Skwawkbox yesterday:
The party is disguising this move as a ‘gradual return to collective bargaining’, but the ‘fair pay agreements’, applicable only in certain sectors, would be set by ‘sector bodies’, not negotiated collectively by workers themselves. This is being presented, to cosy up to employers, as a return to the ‘no-strike’ days of Tony Blair. According to Sam Coates, who was briefed by the party, this: “could mean some sectors could have a higher minimum level of pay than the minimum wage… this will not be right for many bits of the economy.”
https://skwawkbox.org/2023/09/11/starmers-labour-to-introduce-variable-minimum-wage-leaving-many-behind/
Second on Shanks having any meaningful role to play in this:
Labour rows back on workers’ rights to blunt Tory ‘anti-business’ claims
Labour has diluted its 2021 pledge to create a single status of “worker” for all but the genuinely self-employed, regardless of sector, wage or contract type. The policy was aimed at guaranteeing “basic rights and protections” for all workers, including those in the gig economy.
Instead of introducing the policy immediately, Labour has agreed it would consult on the proposal in government, considering how “a simpler framework” that differentiates between workers and the genuinely self-employed “could properly capture the breadth of employment relationships in the UK” and ensure workers can still “benefit from flexible working where they choose to do so”.
Labour also clarified that its previously announced plans to introduce “basic individual rights from day one for all workers”, including sick pay, parental leave and protection against unfair dismissal, will “not prevent . . . probationary periods with fair and transparent rules and processes.”
Only days after Depute UK Leader Angela Starmer told Anas Sarwar that Labour were u-turning again, this time on their promise to devolve workers rights to Scotland, and intending to keep control in London, her leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has made it clear that they intend to betray that promise to workers.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I forgive you, John, for the Angela ‘Starmer’ typo in the last para. As you can’t put a fag paper between labour and tories, so it is with Rayner and Starmer. So easy to get confused these days.😄
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Thanks. Working solo, 72, and ruined by the 60s, so may never be a 100%er.
On reflection, I like ‘Angela Starmer’ but will try not to imagine any congress.
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Not far behind you, John. 🙂
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Way ahead of you by 10 years. Where does the time go?
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Ask Sandy Denny?
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Strewth, thanks for that blast from the past John, haven’t listened to a Fairport Convention or Sandy Denny track in many many years…
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John, this has nothing to do with the discussion but I was quite annoyed when I read the latest article from the Ferret this morning. It concerns pollution of the water and he seems to be suggesting that SEPA is not doing a proper job. It’s very negative and that’s the reason I haven’t shared it. I’d be happy to copy and paste it to you if you don’t subscribe.
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“Maggie” Starmer, CEO of the brand known as *Labour*.
Now downsized, with new ingredients and with extra sugar for the young, old and hard of thinking.
Marketed with a “patriotic” logo and guaranteed to look and taste exactly like another brand (produced in the City by Slicksh!t-R-us &Co).
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It would be interesting to know who did decide to get people to deliver leaflets using zero hours, christ. What a stupid idea, they would surely know the BritNat state would be on that with a ton of bricks. Maybe post office delivery couldn’t be relied on, not sure of alternative.
I did hear Labour were paying for leaflets being delivered, but that seems to be Ok in the media.
I think Angela Starmer sounds appropraite, they are all in it together these right wing folk.
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It’s the company contracted to do the distribution who employed them.
Every political party does the same and nothing and not a cheep from the media…
Except when the “client” is SNP…
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Ps, great to see you yesterday evening as guest at Broadcasting Scotland John, you made some excellent points, as usual, one or two in particular I will have to go back to watch again. Thanks. 🙂
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Glad you could make me out.
Sounded a bit mumbly to me.
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“the SNP does seem to have recruited zero hours workers to deliver leaflets. Which idiot thought to do that? Why didn’t they just use the Post Office”?
An own goal surely which gives the opposition and their media an opportunity to promote yet another #SNPBAD…..naïve or reckless…..either way tis now being weaponised by Labour and their media…..same Labour party and media that blame the SNP for actions not of their making….say like the resulting mess left behind by a Labour council in Glasgow via them, Labour council, fighting against equal pay for women in jobs controlled by Glasgow council.
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You know what to expect from Tory governments. Labour on the other hand are two-faced. Very socialist while in opposition, and ‘conservative’ when the Tories are ready to pass the baton. Sir Keir Starmer will be no different to previous Labour PMs and their battles with the party’s trade union backers. It happened with Harold Wilson (In place of strife), James Callaghan (Years of public sector pay freezes and the Winter of discontent, Tony Blair (Private sector role in public services) and Gordon Brown (British jobs for British workers).
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See what the BBC did here 👇
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66900470
“More than half NHS Scotland buildings not inspected for Raac”
They selectively used a photo of biggest hospital in Scotland, the new QEUH building.
The new building itself will not have the material, but there will be buildings still in use that were built between the 1970s and 1990s on the site of the former Southern General Hospital that may have it.
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Indeed noted as a distraction story in the prior article, yet why pick on a building completed 25 years after RAAC was discontinued ?
Pacific Quay’s incontinent pigeon squadron might become worried, leaving James with more than egg on his face…
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Well-spotted
Worth a wee comment I think
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Worth reminding folks that ALL public buildings using RAAC were registered in the 1990s when the balloon went up over the material, and the Scottish (now Scotland) Office held the list for Scotland, probably now in archives.
The entire media furore over it stinks of political contrivance as distraction.
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