STUC disputes deficit strategy

The Scottish Trades Union Congress, which held its annual congress last month, is challenging what it describes as the “apparent consensus” that puts cutting the government deficit before investment in people and services.

Publishing its own election manifesto, the STUC argues that a more fundamental rebalancing of the economy is needed for lasting recovery than is proposed by politicians.

General secretary Grahame Smith said that while there are certainly differences between parties on the speed and severity of spending cuts, “they appear to share the mistaken view that deficit reduction should be the priority”.

Both SNP and Labour speakers at the conference referred to and endorsed aspects of the manifesto.

STUC assistant secretary for economic and industrial policy Stephen Boyd told Labour Research: “After the banking crisis, we can’t return to business as usual. The centre of debate has shifted to the left.”

The manifesto concentrates on equality in pay and taxation, and economic development underpinned by a Scottish Investment Bank, a green New Deal and public procurement aimed at providing investment in secure high quality jobs.

The cancellation of the Trident nuclear weapons programme, a Robin Hood transactions tax, full implementation of the 2010 Equality Act and the introduction of a short-time wage/training subsidy are some of the manifesto’s more specific proposals.