November. Macintosh says it is not his job to support strike action, he will “not be rushing to criticise teachers for defending their own security and pensions”. He adds that: “Strike action, in the end, is desperation.” Te publication of the McCormac review may keep the peace, but with teachers in England involved in strike action over pensions, this “desperation” would become a reality. As education spokesman, Macintosh has a ringside seat at the Education Committee where recent clashes with Mike Russell have grabbed the headlines. Yet he refers, politely, to his sparring partner as “intelligent” and “articulate”. He adds: “I’m not personal in my politics in any way. I have a political position which will be opposed by the SNP on some issues. But it’s that issue I’m opposed to, not the person who argues it.” Coyly, he adds: “I couldn’t tell you why we have these little jousts. It’s not because I seek them out.” However, perhaps the fiercest battle Macintosh faces is the Labour leadership election. “One of the things the Scottish Labour Party is going to do is reclaim the flag,” he says. “I’m not going to wrap myself in it because I’m not that kind of person. But I’m certainly going to stop the SNP pretending to be the Scottish party, because we’re the Scottish Labour Party.” Bold words for a man who has just chained himself to a party so battered, it can hardly lift a flag let alone wave one. But asked to comment on his party’s desultory performance in the Scottish elections, Macintosh strikes a neat balance between criticism of the recent past and future analysis for Labour in Scotland. “Tere are a range of reasons why we did so badly,” he says. “One of the reasons was that we published our position on a number of issues, the most high profile being tuition fees, quite late on in the electoral cycle.
“Te ‘rabbit out of a hat’ approach to politics or manifestos is a very difficult one. It doesn’t persuade the public, you have to build it up
Beyond the headlines Testing tuition fees
A degree from Edinburgh’s ancient university is arguably the most prestigious in Scotland. With alumni including Alexander Graham Bell and Gordon Brown, the institution was recently ranked 20th in the world – above the London School of Economics. But events of recent weeks have raised serious questions about just how accessible Scotland’s top universities will be next autumn. Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow School of Art have set tuition fees for the “rest of UK students” (RUK) at a staggering £36,000 for four years. As 25,000 Scottish students started or returned to universities last week, the SNP repeated their pledge to protect young people in higher education from the burden of “huge levels of debt”. Education Secretary Mike Russell last week
over time. We were so centred on what the Tories were doing since they came into power at Westminster that I think, yes, our own focus was on all the cuts they were making and the damaging effect that had on Scotland. We have underestimated the SNP. I personally never really took them seriously as a political force
1999 too. Our key role is not to beat the Tories, or to stop the SNP and separation, but to actually make Scotland fairer, happier and wealthier. I’m a believer in the ‘pursuit of happiness’, as the Americans call it. What I’m very disappointed with is that despite all Labour’s achievements, people don’t feel happier. What I want to do is re-engage with
“There’s obviously a lack of experience, but I don’t think you should translate experience into talent”
until they won the election in 2007. And so these are difficult habits to break.” However, revitalising Labour in Scotland after losing so many senior figures is no mean feat. Does he worry that the brightest and the best recruits will flee to London instead? “One of the interesting things about losing the election is that we’ve had an influx of new talented people,” he says. “It probably saved us – if you can imagine
how despondent many of us were at losing our friends and colleagues at the last election, and having done so badly. “Tere’s obviously a lack of experience, but
I don’t think you should translate experience into talent. Politics in Scotland has changed its focus. Te Scottish Parliament is now the focus of Scottish politics. If it’s not an MSP who wins, I’ll be very surprised.”
Scottish Labour has come under fire,
however, from critics who say their values are now too vague for voters to identify with. “Far from it,” he says. “In 1997 we spoke the language of the people of Scotland, and in
hammered home this promise as the furore over tuition fees continues to erupt in academic and student circles. Russell said: “The Scottish Government has maintained the principle of free education. There are not and will not be tuition fees for Scottish domiciled students. Clearly, in an ideal world we wouldn’t charge fees from the rest of the UK. However, we had to act as a result of the UK Government’s decision to charge fees of up to £9,000 a year in England – we are operating in a world where every pound counts – and we must focus our budgets, which Westminster has reduced by £1.3 billion, on our priorities.” However, the Scottish Government will only pay £5,000 a year for home students studying on many courses. The onus then falls to universities, who must somehow make up the shortfall. But with such high fees, RUK students may rule
out applying to Scottish universities altogether. With more Scottish students opting to study in their home
the people of Scotland, on our values and principles and our vision of what Scotland could be as a nation. I think that’s the way back. Te next Labour leader should be Scotland’s next First Minister with a vision for Scotland over ten years, twenty
years, thirty years – that’s what the Labour Party needs to do. It’s about our language, it’s about our warmth.” His language echoes the driving force behind
New Labour’s manifesto – all “power, wealth and opportunity in the hands of the many, not the few.” But is he a match for political heavyweight Alex Salmond? “In the end, he’s just a politician,” says
Macintosh. “My politics aren’t about personality. I’m not in it because I’m against Alex Salmond, I’m in it because of the values that I stand for. I certainly think there will be a contrast of styles. I’m not condescending or sneering or personal in my own politics. I would certainly intend to be my own person, I’m not going to play his game, that’s not my politics. “Te most important thing to me is to stay true to who I am as a person, and my values and not engage in what I would describe as a Westminster style of politics – aggressive, adversarial, oppositional. I’m far more reasonable in the way I approach matters and life generally.”
country, this could affect the competitiveness of Scotland’s premier universities. The brightest and the best may be persuaded against coming to, say, Edinburgh where a degree usually means a fourth year – at huge extra cost. Also, the minimum entry requirement to study
English Literature, for example, is AAAA for Highers and AAA for A-Levels with a strong set of A* grades at GCSE. Only top calibre students will be considered for entry. But with a fourth year costing an extra £9,000 and English universities offering attractive bursaries to RUK students in 2012, top-class applications to Scottish universities may fall away. As a result, the bar for entry to universities such as Edinburgh could drop down to B grades. The Government is facing a rather sticky mess
when it comes to balancing university autonomy with upholding a pledge on which they were elected. Will this move backfire? It remains to be seen.
19 September 2011
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