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Lots of chat today on @KeirStarmer speech on constitutional change and devolution. A few thoughts after some time immersed in the study of the Labour project’s constitutional thinking. With gifs because it’s 4 days til Christmas and I’m fuelled entirely by festive baking
1/ The challenge for Labour (in general, but particularly in Scotland) is to set out a distinctive constitutional position. Labour has been squeezed between unionism and nationalism, and despite its efforts, is widely regarded to be fudging on its constitutional position.
2/ This is often attributed to Corbyn – one interviewee memorably noted that the only constitution Corbyn cared about was the Irish one. But I think it suggests something deeper within the party – that has to be grasped by the new leadership.
3/ The Labour Party is the party which delivered devolution in 1999 but has struggled since then to adapt to these new electoral/institutional realities. This is true for both its constitutional position and for its internal organisation.
4/ Starmer’s speech doesn’t appear to move beyond this – proposing a constitutional convention, with Gordon Brown taking the lead. This has been a manifesto staple for a while but we haven’t seen details on what this might look like.
5/ The union is justified with ref to 'pooling', shared history/challenges. But Labour is in a tough position – how do you oppose the actions of the government while talking up the strengths of the Union? - @DaniCetra and I do a deep dive here https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13537113.2020.1716443
6/ The overall argument is pretty standard – both the Conservatives (obsessed by Brexit, mishandling Covid) and the SNP (obsessed with independence, mishandling education, drugs deaths) are undermining the Union. And Labour is to save the day.
7/ The challenge here is how? Without a UK election on the horizon, what prospect does a constitutional convention have? And change at Holyrood looks unlikely, given recent polling.
8/ And again, the party appears to have fallen into the typical trap- responding only to the threat of Scottish independence. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland feel tacked on.
9/ In sum, Starmer sets out the party's thinking but I'm not convinced there is anything new here. The same problems (opposition to indyref) and the same solutions (constitutional convention, Gordon Brown)
