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*This is no longer an issue for parliament. It is the Scottish people who must decide".
These were the words of Norman Buchan after the votes of 39 Labour MPs wrecked the Devolution Bill.
But what ever gave parliament the right to decide? All the parties proclaiming Scotland's right to decide have been busy negotiating that right away in Westminster. And after three years they have got .... nowhere, Does it matter? Decidedly yes. A people have been denied a right they overwhelmingly desire. Alter years of meekly backing cuts and wage freezes, the so-called socialists who opposed the guillotine have decided that 640 politicians count for more than the democratic decisions of their party, of the TUC, and the rights of the Scots and Welsh peoples.
With appeals to parliamentary sovereignty" they have created the best possible conditions for the growtb of the SNP. They have sown the seeds of a disastrous national split in the labour movement. And they have reinforced the hold of "common-sense" British nationalism over the working class.
What now? Waiting for the all-party talks is useless. They are hamstrung by the very forces who sabotaged the bill. Labour movement action is needed. The problem is how to organise it.
The first step is to combat the splitters in our own ranks. MP's who blocked the bill must be called to account, Socialists in England must wake up and fight the stand
of their so-called leaders. Home Rule must be ro-estabiished as a basic demand of the labour movement.
The coming STUC can take the initiative in calling a campaign of public rallies and local actions drawing in all Labour Movement Parties. It can promote a genuinely democratie and open labour movement conference to spell our a lighting policy - not just on the democratic but on the economic and social incasures needed to meet the aspirations of Scottish working people. Without waiting on the STUC, local action can start now.
We do not accept that previous gatherings. such as the Scottish conventions organised by the STUC, can go anywhere. They were not committed to campaign on any issue. And the labour movement cannot organise cffectively il it mcludes its class enemics within its own campaign. We should welcome participation from SNP stewards. But the SNP as a party is out to split the working cluss and has no place in such a campaign.
And our um must be clear. We cannot just fight for the old Bill, It was never endorsed by the Scoltish people. The powers of the assembly should be decided by the people. The call nust be fora Constiment Assemhiv which can determine its own form and powers.
Scottish Labour MPs voting against were Willie Hamilton /Central Fife) and Tom Dolvell (West Lotian), Richard Buchanan (Springburn) and Robert Hughes (North Aberdeen/ abstained.
Text of Emergency resolution for a Labour movement campain on devolution .. See Pace 14.