People's Charter complements Million Voices?

In a speech to the People's Charter Convention on 21 November‏, Mike Kirby argued that the Charter was not for 'a separate political party' but was "complementary to" the million voices campaign and gives "a platform to work with whoever shares our pursuit of common objectives".

Full Speech: "A series of key events and issues this year, have sorely tested the electorate’s views of politics and politicians, and lessened their engagement with the political process.

When we needed a debate on progressive taxation policies to address social need, the headlines were captured by the expenses scandal and evidence of petty corruption and greed in our elected representatives.

The cause and effect of the economic crisis was laid at the door of a political process compliant to big business, and to be paid for by tax payers directly and through attacks on public services for decades to come.

The illegal and objectively uncertain wars, criticised by the people and the military, have left parliament a poodle and second to American interest, and the demands of the military industrial complex.

And did democracy in the UK finally die on a Black Friday 13 November when almost 70% of the electorate did not bother to vote in the Glasgow NE by election despite a choice of some thirteen candidates?

It can no longer be denied or ignored that the electorate is progressively turning its back on our so-called democratic system They feel disenfranchised by a system which ignores them

The expenses scandal had a particular resonance in Glasgow NE causing the resignation of the previous MP Michael Martin, as Speaker triggering the by election

While “Gorbals Mick” as some parts of the media would have tagged him, because of his working class roots, was a target, disgust at his role in perpetuating a system of entitlement, was cancelled out by anger, that he was forced out by snobbery.

The high profile achieved by the BNP in the campaign brought an alarming new dimension to a Scottish by election. It was only a whisker away from achieving 5% of the vote, only 62 behind the Tories.

But, thousands turned out onto the streets the next Saturday under the banner Scotland United, to force the Scottish Defence League off the streets of Glasgow and show that they have no place in our multicultural society.

On 25 November Peoples Charter Scotland will be holding a rally at the Scottish Parliament sponsored by nearly dozen supporting MSPs, to say to all the parties who came together under Scotland United, if you can come together to fight racism and fascism, you can make common cause to defeat poverty and unemployment.

As the campaign for electoral reform gathers some momentum, voters are finding that there interests and concerns are reflected in other forms of organisation, and that their voices stand a better chance of being heard in issue campaigns.

As politicians lose face, there is a need to re-build credibility with the voters, the public and our members in trade unions.

The People’s Charter can provide a campaigning tool for that.

A call for the STUC to sign up to the People’s Charter agenda for taking forward left policies was defeated on a majority vote after being denounced by General Secretary Grahame Smith as 'sloganising'.

However, the Congress went on to carry a composite which called on the General Council, in consultation with affiliates, to develop and promote a new Charter for Public Services based on enshrining the rights and responsibilities to which all parties – governments, as the employer of public services workers, and the people can transparently base the future of Scotland and Britain’s public services.

An STUC conference on that theme will take place in the new year.

The People’s Charter was opposed less because of what it said, but because of who was saying it. And it wasn’t the idea of any of the big four.

But UNISON Scotland has backed the charter. How can we oppose something which includes much of our current policy? The Charter is not a charter for an alternative political party but an opportunity to construct broad alliances in pursuit of our objectives.

The Charter sits alongside UNISON’s Million Voices for Change campaign directed at our members. The campaigns are complementary and provide a platform for the wider alliances which will be essential in securing social progress and restoring confidence in electoral process.

We want to see changes that put people before profit and public interest before private greed.

A Million Voices for Change aims to counter the misinformation and attacks on public services and public service workers put about by some politicians, some media and representatives of private sector business like the CBI, Institute of Directors and their ‘think tanks’ like the so-called ‘Taxpayers Alliance.’

The People’s Charter gives us a platform to work with whoever shares our pursuit of common objectives.

These include an end to corruption and sleaze in the public services.

The concept of a military industrial complex has long been present in the political lexicon.

It has enabled arms manufacturers to drive public policy in their own self interest by funding political parties, think tanks, academic research and media interests. Since 1945 it has been a driving force for wars.

It is no exaggeration to claim an analogous situation exists in public services in the UK (and abroad) where public policy in favour of privatisation has been driven by private sector corporations and their parliamentary mouthpieces.
The Morning Star headline on 5 September 2009 "Prison Officers Rail Against 'Corrupt' Collusion". Credit to the POA for exposing the unsavoury relationship between civil servants and the privateers.

The same can be said of course about many New Labour Ministers past and present which was brilliantly exposed by Seaumas Milne in the Guardian on 2 July 2009 in his article '"A Culture of Corruption Has Seeped Far into Government."

Books such as Nick Cohen's "Pretty Straight Guys" and Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" have documented the privatising sleaze which has riddled the New Labour Government since 1997.

UNISON's 2008 groundbreaking report on "the rise of the public services industry" is an outstanding trade union analysis of the UK public services industrial complex.

These companies will be salivating at the prospect of a Tory Government taking power in May 2010.

That's why UNISON Million Voices Campaign must urgently include critiques of the main private sector predators in health and local government which are as hard hitting as those of the POA against the prison service privateers.
That’s why the People’s Charter can provide an umbrella to bring together those fighting for a Fairer Economy for a Fairer Britain, Fairness and Justice, Improved Services, More and Better Jobs and a Better Future for All."