May 1st 2025 - reflection and action

Stuart Fairweather takes up the opportunity which May the first offers to reflect ...

There's dissatisfaction with Starmer, ‘disbelief' about Trump, and concern about the far right. All this when people and planet are under increasing attack. 

Democratic Left Scotland (DLS), has operated for a number of years on the understanding that there is more to politics than parties. More on that below. But political parties and elections remain hugely important, even if they feel at an increasing distance from people’s everyday lives.

DLS maintains its relationship with the Party of the European Left, including by our attendance at April's meeting in Brussels. This relationship provides us with an essential connection to the politics of Europe where promoting social and environmental justice are central to opposing the drift to the right. 

In Scotland the politicians of the two main left of centre parties - SNP and Labour - speak about the importance of tackling the far-right by addressing material concerns. Unhappily Scottish and UK governments are failing to address this adequately, with far too big an emphasis on the population as consumers. The physical and social infrastructure of our lives and places where we live, for the many, continues to crumble. 

Positively, John Swinney's attempt to bring civil society together to address the right locates the discussion within the defence of democracy. The decision of the Scottish Conservatives to absent themselves speaks to their focus on the 2026 elections and their enthusiasm for 'culture wars'. 

The Tories, however, are not alone in being overly focussed on the 2026 elections. Political party selection processes and associated concern mean that those in or aspiring to Holyrood already have next May firmly at the front of their minds. June's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election will make this situation more acute. 

So we need to widen the lens of politics and political discussion. This year’s STUC heard from John Swinney and Anas Sarwar. The First Minister did talk about the importance of trade unions, tackling the right and economic intervention but in very muted tones. The Scottish Labour leader offered an insight to his election manifesto. Those looking for enthusiasm and insight had to look elsewhere. 

Trade union action at Grangemouth and the University of Dundee, with differing results, informed people’s thinking. Ensuring a much more deliberate and ‘unified' approach to defending and developing the Scottish economy will require input from the SNP, Labour and Greens. From government and civil society. From the unions working together and from communities. 

This coming weekend there will be May Day events across Scotland. They offer an opportunity to again assert that a 'different Scotland is possible'. Moving in that direction will require thought, discussion and action on an ongoing basis. 

Published 1st May 2025. Stuart is the national convenor of DLS.