BBC Scotland, in their current inimitable style of seemingly highlighting any No campaigners statements or accusations, presented a selection of Johann Lamont’s speech quotes on their website. Here they are below, with my own comments.
“Let us define ourselves by what we are for, not what we are against.”
Yes, let’s do so. The Yes campaign in the Independence ‘debate’ has a positive message of believing in Scotland’s people. Johann and her pals’ No campaign is merely anti-SNP and has no message but one of fear. What she doesn’t yet quite understand is that things have moved on and people can see its not about the SNP, it’s about the future of Scotland. Can she HONESTLY define herself as being for Scotland’s best interests? Or just against the SNP?
“Scotland can stand united against the Tory cuts and I call upon the SNP to work with us.”
The audacity in this statement is worthy of the sainted Margaret herself! The truth is its the Labour Party under her direction that either sides with the Tories or abstains when there is a vote to stand against the Tory cuts!
The reason Labour don’t stand united against Tory cuts, like welfare cuts and Bedroom Tax is only because they’d have to agree with ‘THEM’ (the SNP). This has become the only thing that Labour stands for – it is anti-SNP rather than holding any socialist principles.
“Our greatest resource will always be our people and if we are to give people the chance to fulfil their potential it is a second education boom we need in Scotland.”
So why then Johanna have you said there should be an end to the “something for nothing culture”? Opposed to the free higher education rights introduced by…the SNP!?
“I am well aware that you don’t appease lions by throwing more Christians at them. And I will not walk an inch down the road to independence.”
That’s a shame because more and more of your party and Labour voters are starting to question why this is. Why would Labour stand rock-solid with an unelected, hated government of millionaire out-of-touch Etonians rather than stand up for traditional Labour values? Is she ashamed of our great country and its people? Does she think we are too wee, too poor and too stupid to look after our own interests? She is living in the past.
“Can I tell you today what powers I really want? They are the powers Alex Salmond already has. The power over Scotland’s education. The power over Scotland’s health service.”
And yet, she has denounced the positive reforms offering free services at point of need as “something for nothing culture”!!! Would she then overturn these reforms if she had the power? This is supposed to be a Labour leader! For shame.
“Is Alex Salmond concerned about the families who pay more for childcare than they do a mortgage?”
I have no idea the answer to this, but based on what I see of party policies and what the SNP government in Holyrood has done compared to the careless arrogance of New Labour / LibDem years, I know who I would trust more.
“I challenge Alex Salmond to meet me next week and to bring his budget.”
Yawn. More Salmond-fishing. Empty rhetoric.
“There is no greater cause than child poverty – its existence diminishes us all.”
Then why did your party abstain on the vital Bedroom Tax vote?
“Alex Salmond is no friend of the poor.”
How many times! Does she think slinging enough mud will make it stick? Again, the only form of ‘argument’ is invective against Salmond and the SNP.
You see, these accusations, the negative campaigning, is designed to paint anyone who challenges this rubbish as a Salmond-apologist. Like a dreaded “Nat”. Nevertheless, it’s worth pointing out that the Scottish Government has introduced free higher education which was and still is opposed by her and her Tory-Labour party.
“We in this party, this movement, will fight for this country we love.”
Only insomuch as Ed lets you! If you cared about Scotland Johann, as much as you cared about protecting your own position, you would vote for what’s best for the country.
Yes, you have no argument to put forward, no policies. All you do in effect is shout “It’s no fair, THEY are more left wing than us! And Ed wont let me do anything!”
What is this movement that you speak of? Are you seriously suggesting that you represent the traditional values of the Labour movement? Or is it a market-driven New Labour (i.e. Tory, anti-Labour) movement you’re talking about?
And what is this country you love? The UK?
In summary….
Johann, you are floundering around, trying to come up with some policy of additional powers for Scotland that your Westminster bosses will see as meaningless enough to let you put forward.
That’s why you floated the idea of promising to allow Holyrood to set the important level of…..airport flight taxes! It is so sad it is beyond humorous.
If that is your idea of Scotland, of the limits you would set on this great country, then I hope your party wakes up to you very soon and forces you out of office.
Your speech was beyond parody. E.g. I hear you have also set up an Orwellian sounding “Truth Team”! Need I point out the irony of this? None of your scare stories have yet stood up to scrutiny and you are even defending Ian Taylor’s donation to Better Together! A trifle disingenuous wouldn’t you say? Maybe the “Truth Team” could help you unpick the deceit surrounding this.
We could really do with some honest debate in the Independence Referendum. But to debate you need to have a credible alternative view. You are bereft – and you’re leading a once-great party, that used to stand up for the real people of the country, to the dogs.
Have a long, hard HONEST and TRUTHFUL look at yourself, Johann.
Stop the dishonest carping and try to come up with real policies. You might need to become a little more shall I say, ‘independent’ to do so.
Labour used to stand up against the Tory policies that decimated the country from Westminster. Now only the ‘dreaded’ SNP government does that, while you have aligned your party with those hated policies. Let me say that I consider the current Scottish Labour party’s direction to not only be contrary to the best interests of our country (by that I mean Scotland), but a gross betrayal of traditional Labour values and all those who have voted Labour in the past.
Be brave Johann. Do you have Labour at heart, or only self-interest? If its the former, you may in all honesty decide to choose your friends a little more carefully.
