JEREMY Corbyn is due to make a keynote speech on the constitution this Friday during his first visit to Scotland in 2017 when he is expected to back the party establishing a citizens' constitutional convention that will look at creating a federal UK, including a parliament for England and an elected Senate to replace the current House of Lords.
The UK party leader, who once famously said he was not a Unionist but a socialist, will speak on the future of the United Kingdom in Glasgow at an as yet undisclosed location.
Last week, he reacted coolly to the suggestion by Kezia Dugdale for a new Act of Union but party sources have made clear that he is not per se opposed to a federal set-up but wants the party to consider it within a convention, which will also include discussion of reforming the House of Lords to an elected chamber representing the nations and regions of the UK.
Loading article content
In December, the Scottish Labour leader outlined plans for a federal structure for the UK when she argued a new Act of Union was needed to "save the UK for generations to come".
She called for a convention, modelled on the one set up in Scotland ahead of the creation of the Scottish Parliament, to "re-establish the UK for a new age".
Her deputy Alex Rowley, meantime, has also called for Scottish Labour – which as part of a more federalised party structure was recently given new powers to set its own policies - to campaign for "Home Rule within a confederal United Kingdom".
Last November, Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister, put forward a more federal way forward, noting how in the wake of the Brexit vote Britain could see "discontent turn into anger as standards of living fall faster and jobs start to go".
He said at the time: "It is clear that the UK in its present form is not working for everyone. To prevent the harmful divisions that now exist from deepening, we need to reimagine the UK for new times.”
In the same month Paul Nuttall, the Ukip leader, called for a federal UK with the Commons acting as an English Parliament and the Lords becoming a Senate to act as a revising chamber for the UK's devolved institutions as well as the federal parliament looking after foreign affairs, defence and the UK budget.
Earlier this month, John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor and a key lieutenant of Mr Corbyn, said: "I believe there is immense potential in developing a radical federal structure.”
The party leader has said that while he is in favour of establishing a convention to look at various aspects of the British constitution, he distanced himself from Ms Dugdale's main proposal, saying: "I would not use the words new Act of Union."
The party leader’s appearance in Scotland will come just a week after David Anderson, the Shadow Scottish Secretary, suggested Mr Corbyn needed to raise his game north of the border.
In an interview with The Herald Mr Anderson, who represents Blaydon in Tyne and Wear, recognised that the Leader of the Opposition had to do more in Scotland and that he had failed to “make a mark” north of the border because of a hostile media and months spent internalising over last year’s party leadership contest.
Mr Anderson said that while it was “vital” for Labour to revive in Scotland and that without winning seats here it was probably unlikely the party would win power in 2020, he also admitted there was no written plan to resurrect Labour’s fortunes north of the border.
At the weekend, Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Health Secretary, told The Fabian Society that the party's decline in Scotland was making Labour unelectable in the rest of the UK.
"Unless we can show we are competitive in Scotland the Conservatives will run a message saying that we cannot trust Labour in Bolton because a Labour government can only be formed with the support of the Scots Nationalists. And so the interests of Banff and Buchan will come ahead of the interests of Bury and Bolton."
In his interview Mr Anderson, who last year controversially expressed his personal view that, as a last resort, Labour might consider a pact with the SNP, made clear this was no longer his view and that “there will be no pact; end of story”.
It is thought that after giving his speech in Glasgow Mr Corbyn will travel to Copeland in Cumbria to begin campaigning for the forthcoming Westminster by-election there; a date has yet to be fixed for the poll.
Comments
Comments & Moderation
We moderate all comments on Herald Scotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well and trust you then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
The picture is brilliant! Each is asking "what's going on?" Each, different questions.
The picture is brilliant! Each is asking "what's going on?" Each, different questions.
Corbyn to self: "Err, what's her name again?...... Wendy?"
Last edited: 7:51am Tue 17 Jan 17
Corbyn to self: "Err, what's her name again?...... Wendy?"
Wow the wee regional tea office better get out and buy some more T bags. Then again they will blame the SNP for running short.
Wow the wee regional tea office better get out and buy some more T bags. Then again they will blame the SNP for running short.
Wonder what their plan is this week, can't wait.
Wonder what their plan is this week, can't wait.
The UK party leader, who once famously said he was not a Unionist but a socialist, will speak on the future of the United Kingdom in Glasgow at an as yet undisclosed location.
I presume all the major venues are already booked out.
The UK party leader, who once famously said he was not a Unionist but a socialist, will speak on the future of the United Kingdom in Glasgow at an as yet undisclosed location.
I presume all the major venues are already booked out.
Reforming the HoL was supposed to happen when Blair was in office. What happened to that idea? And was devolution to the regions of England not another idea that fell by the wayside? Another Constitutional Convention, what for?
Reforming the HoL was supposed to happen when Blair was in office. What happened to that idea? And was devolution to the regions of England not another idea that fell by the wayside? Another Constitutional Convention, what for?
I listened to a very unenthusiastic Mr Corbyn on Radio Scotland last week and despite several prods from David Taylor to answer specific Scottish issues he steadfastly refused .Instead he sounded like he was bored, reading from a script and his mind was on other more pressing things ..perhaps cutting back those brussel sprouts at his allotment ?
I listened to a very unenthusiastic Mr Corbyn on Radio Scotland last week and despite several prods from David Taylor to answer specific Scottish issues he steadfastly refused .Instead he sounded like he was bored, reading from a script and his mind was on other more pressing things ..perhaps cutting back those brussel sprouts at his allotment ?
The UK Constitution does not exist.
The UK Constitution does not exist.
Which is one of its strengths. If the US didn't have a constitution written in tablets of stone 13,000 Americans might not have been killed by guns last year.
Last edited: 7:22pm Mon 16 Jan 17
Which is one of its strengths. If the US didn't have a constitution written in tablets of stone 13,000 Americans might not have been killed by guns last year.
Or maybe they would have. How can you be sure?
Or maybe they would have. How can you be sure?
The 2nd amendment, which is responsible for the present lunatic gun situation in America, was written in 1791. If succeeding Presidents and Congresses had been free to make gun laws fit for the modern age there is no way they would have people able to freely buy automatic assault weapons, supposedly for their own protection.
The 2nd amendment, which is responsible for the present lunatic gun situation in America, was written in 1791. If succeeding Presidents and Congresses had been free to make gun laws fit for the modern age there is no way they would have people able to freely buy automatic assault weapons, supposedly for their own protection.
The USA is a democracy and they have the ability to do something about it should they so wish. Unfortunately they seem happy not to but I'm sure Darwin selection will hold true in the end.
The USA is a democracy and they have the ability to do something about it should they so wish. Unfortunately they seem happy not to but I'm sure Darwin selection will hold true in the end.
Federalism? Not feasible when one entity has 83% of the population, unless Scotland is to be relegated to a region on a par with Yorkshire. Anyway it doesn't let us have a seat at the UN so stuff that.
Federalism? Not feasible when one entity has 83% of the population, unless Scotland is to be relegated to a region on a par with Yorkshire. Anyway it doesn't let us have a seat at the UN so stuff that.
So how exactly do you imagine we are superior to Yorkshire and deserving of special treatment? And please spare us the old tosh about Scotland being a country. Scotland's nationhood was achieved by mediaeval warlords beating the sh*t out of each other (and the peasantry) until they established superiority over others. Hardly something to boast about.
So how exactly do you imagine we are superior to Yorkshire and deserving of special treatment? And please spare us the old tosh about Scotland being a country. Scotland's nationhood was achieved by mediaeval warlords beating the sh*t out of each other (and the peasantry) until they established superiority over others. Hardly something to boast about.
Peter,
Was that not the same throughout medieval Europe, and further afield, so no need to single out Scotland as the only country with that type of past.
Besides did Alex indicate that we were superior to Yorkshire folk?, not that I can see.
Peter,
Was that not the same throughout medieval Europe, and further afield, so no need to single out Scotland as the only country with that type of past.
Besides did Alex indicate that we were superior to Yorkshire folk?, not that I can see.
Yes, I know that most countries (including England) also achieved their national identity through sheer brute force. Nationhood may be a fact of life, but it is absolutely nothing to feel superior about.
Yes, I know that most countries (including England) also achieved their national identity through sheer brute force. Nationhood may be a fact of life, but it is absolutely nothing to feel superior about.
[deleted]
The SNP have drawn support from socialists who used to vote Labour. Jeremy Corbyn might just win them back
The SNP have drawn support from socialists who used to vote Labour. Jeremy Corbyn might just win them back
"Jeremy Corbyn might just win them back"
I think he'll have to pull something quite spectacular out of the bag then.....
"Jeremy Corbyn might just win them back"
I think he'll have to pull something quite spectacular out of the bag then.....
I still think that they should organise a wake. It does not happen on it's own you know, and the Leader of the Labour Party is present at the time to do all the essentials. I do not think that waiting for the next election is a good idea, you may have difficulty getting him back.
I still think that they should organise a wake. It does not happen on it's own you know, and the Leader of the Labour Party is present at the time to do all the essentials. I do not think that waiting for the next election is a good idea, you may have difficulty getting him back.