CommonSpace columnist Anas Hassan asks whether Jeremy Corbyn could sway former Labour voters in Scotland back to voting for the party
THE Labour Party in Scotland has had a torrid time of late.
Despite being part of the No campaign which won last year’s Scottish independence referendum, it melted like snow off a dyke in the recent UK General Election and any prospect of some sort of a comeback at Holyrood looks unlikely.
So what does Jeremy Corbyn’s success so far in the current UK Labour leadership race mean for Scottish independence?
Corbyn has won credibility for being a political figure that is actually willing to excite and provoke rather than behave like a grey, predictable and monotonous politician.
Regardless of who becomes the next leader of the party, Corbyn has already won something. The candidate who was initially seen as the underdog has punched well above his weight and won a tsunami of support from many individuals and stakeholders.
He has won credibility for being a political figure that is actually willing to excite and provoke rather than behave like a grey, predictable and monotonous politician.
It is obvious that much of the Yes vote in last year’s referendum came from disillusioned and former voters of Labour, many of whom subsequently supported a pro-independence party in the recent UK General Election.
It is widely anticipated that the majority of the next Scottish Parliament will be composed of pro-independence MSPs – a potentially remarkable development given Scotland voted to stay within the United Kingdom.
But as far as pro-independence supporters are concerned, the dream of Scotland standing on its own two feet in the world remains as alive as ever. The desire to stay within the UK remains dead and buried and there is no way back.
But what if Jeremy Corbyn becomes the next leader of the UK Labour party? So far there seems to be little acrimony between Corbyn and the SNP. In fact, the current 56 SNP MPs at Westminster must welcome the prospect of a Labour leader who is actually prepared to fulfil the duty of opposing the current UK Government, rather than mitigating it.
It is obvious that much of the Yes vote in last year’s referendum came from disillusioned and former voters of Labour, many of whom subsequently supported a pro-independence party in the recent UK General Election.
Maybe the need to invade the main opposition benches opposite the prime minister could be lessened if someone like Corbyn takes over and behaves like a proper leader of the ppposition.
In all of this, we need to remember the Scottish Labour party – it has a leadership contest going on as well. Kezia Dugdale and Ken Macintosh haven’t exactly played cheerleader for Jeremy Corbyn’s potential leadership to date and aren’t really expected to.
What’s more, it is fair to conclude that Scottish Labour, while some branches have backed Corbyn for the leadership, is split as a whole on who should take over in September.
Could it be the case that Corbyn winning may make divisions more rife among Labour in Scotland as well as across the rest of the UK?
It’s worth remembering that like the other three Labour leadership candidates – Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham – Jeremy Corbyn supports Scotland’s place within the United Kingdom.
Corbyn will not become a flag waver for Scotland’s independence, nor will he possibly, I suspect, be sympathetic with the prospect of a future second Scottish independence referendum.
Could it be the case that Corbyn winning may make divisions more rife among Labour in Scotland as well as across the rest of the UK?
It is an academic possibility that some Yes supporters could be seduced by Corbyn’s passionate fight and focus on social justice, meaning as a possible consequence moving away from supporting the pro-independence position and backing a pro-unionist supporting Labour Party (which it will be regardless of whether Corbyn is elected as leader).
On the other hand, Scottish Labour could stand to benefit from this, but many people aren’t as inspired by it as they are with Jeremy Corbyn.
For those susceptible to floating from a party such as the SNP to a Corbyn-led Labour Party, it may well in the end be a matter of supporting Corbyn despite Scottish Labour rather than a full on conversion to Labour overall.
Time will tell.
Picture courtesy of Jasn