A PARTY FOR THE WORKERS

The last two days at the STUC Congress has once again exposed the differences between the SNP and the British Labour Party (Scotland Region). It has also confirmed that New Labour has still lost the plot with no signing of waking up.

Firstly, we had Gordon Brown re-writing history in respect to Scotland's Trade Union Leaders. To omit Jimmy Reid from a list of Trade Union greats is a disgrace. What is also a disgrace is to suggest that all Trade Union leaders supported the Union. Indeed, Mick McGahey who was a member of Democratic Left, an organisation which supported Scotland's right to self determination, is incorrectly put on that list.

On the same day, John Swinney addressed Congress and met with rail unions, a meeting arranged through the SNP Trade Union Group, to discuss the recent Scotrail extension. Two things are clear. The contract agreed by the Labour/Lib Dem administration was a scandal, which put the Scottish Government in a weak position. However, i believe the Government have negotiated a good package in difficult circumstances. I also agree with John that consultation could have been better, and that the Government will look at ways of dealing with this in future, however, I do believe that the advice given in this respect was incorrect. Second thing that is clear is that the Unions would not have been entertained had the Lab/Lib Dem Executive had made the extension decision.

Yesterday, the STUC was addressed by the First Minister, Alex Salmond, who spent some time talking to Trade Unionists and visited stalls before his address, something Jack McConnell never did.

The announcement of the new Southern General Hospital being funded exclusively form Public Sector funding, and not PPP or PFI, is a fantastic boost to the city of Glasgow, to Govan, and fantastic boost to the Westminster campaign in Glasgow South West. This announcement is a clear signal from the Scottish Government that PPP/PFI is "the only game in town" as New Labour have consistently called it.

The rest of the First Minister's speech concentrated on themes consistent with Trade Union values, and was well received by the delegates at the STUC.

This of course is compared to the strange ranting of Wendy Alexander, who exposing her hypocrisy, suggested that the SNP Government was made up of special interests. Given that 80% of New Labour funding comes from those who are later awarded with a Peerage or other bawbles, it seems that Wendy is still engaged in some parallel universe.

At Congress I counted that criticism of the UK Government compared to criticism of the Scottish Government was a 8 to 1 ratio, which suggests that the STUC are more comfortable with the Scottish Government.

A move towards free prescriptions, a freeze on a regressive tax, no private prisons, Public sector capital funding of a new hospital are hardly the choices of a right wing government. SNP policy of removing the Thatcher anti Trade Union laws which New Labour have kept is longstanding.

The values of the Scottish Government are equal to those of the Scottish Trade Union movement.

The SNP is clearly the Party for Scotland's Workers.