1. The National Column
An overseastourist strollingalongthe banksof the Clyde onSaturdaymighteasilyhave gotthe
impressionthatIndependenceDayhadalready arrivedinScotland.Lengthyqueuesthatusually
signifythe arrival intownof an internationalsuperstarformedoutoutside the Hydrofrommid-
morningto hearScotland’snewfemaleFirstMinister. A hundred metresacrossthe concourse,
thousands packedintothe Armadilloand spilledacrossthe Bell’sBridge tothe Glasgow Science
Centre toattendralliesandworkshopsorganisedbythe Radical Independence Campaigntodiscuss
and debate the wayforwardto a bright,brand-new Scotlandbasedonequality,peace andjustice.
In thisincrediblepostreferendumtime,IthinkI’mexcitedand feartinequal measure. Lastweek –
BOOM...Just like thatwe got a 50/50 Cabinet!Within15years,the Scottish Parliamenthas takena
dramaticleaptowardsgenderequality, whilethe centuries-oldHouse of Commonsisstuckina time-
warp where 80 per centof the Cabinet,andthe same proportionof MPs,are men
I’ve neverknownsuchgoodwilltowardsagovernmentasthere istowardsthisSNPone.While 1000
womenat the recentWomenforIndependence conference inPerthimagined afull blownfeminist
revolution,thosesame womencheeredthatwee sniff of equalityatthe topof government.
Evenat the Radical Independence Conference yesterday,noone issettingouttocondemnthisnew
Governmentbefore it’sfounditslegs.Yes,people wantmore.Theywant torealise avisionof
Scotlandthat fliesinthe face of a worldrun byand for the corporate elites.Andtheywanttooffer
‘constructive opposition’,thatcanharnessall the hope,creativityandambitionthatthe referendum
unleashed andwinoveratleasta bigchunk of the 55 percent.
So,that’s whyI’ma wee bitfeart.The Yesmovementhasnow become aninformed,intelligentand
articulate electorate thatexpectstobe involved.The ‘consultation’erahasgone. Scotlandhas
changedand politicsMUST be done differently. We have apopulace able andwillingtounderstand
the complex andundoubtedlydifficult decision-makingof Government.A populace thatiswillingto
make allowancesbutdemandingtobe heard.
I’manxiousabouthowfar thisGovernment will goinembracingthisdemocraticrevolution. The test
will be when SNP policyisoutof tune withthe widermovement. IsthisaGovernmentpreparedto
listenandchange itsmind?Andmake a virtue of it?
I findmyself hoping,withall myheart,that the new ScottishGovernmentunderNicola Sturgeonhas
the confidence,maturityandvisiontoletgo.
Anothertestwill be howfargenderequalityispushed. 50/50 cabinetsare the start, notthe end.
Justas trickle-downeconomicsdoesn’twork, trickle-downgenderequalitywon’t workeither.
We needashiftfor womenatthe bottomand throughthe middle aswell asthe top.Women across
the board experience incomeinequality.Butamongwomen,there isgrossinequality. The Institute
for PublicPolicyResearchfollowedagroupof womenbornin1958. Those withdegreesearned
three timesmore than‘unskilled’women(whatwomendoyouknow withoutanyskills?).The gap
betweendegree-educatedandunskilledmenwas45 per cent.So womenatthe bottomendget a
double dunt.

2. Andthe UK isgettingworse.Inthe latestGlobal GenderGapReport,the UK has slidfrom18th
inthe
worldto 26th
injust one year.The pay gap has widened,menare still beingpromotedoverwomen,
and womenare doingmore of the part time,low paidzerohoursjobs.
Andthat’s withouttakingaccountof all the extra,but unpaid, workwe dointhe home andin our
communities. The ScottishGovernment’scommitmenttoexpandedchildcare isafurtherindication
of political will. Clearlyindependence would have offeredthe bestchance of permanently
dismantlinggenderinequality,the ScottishGovernmentcanandshoulddomore withthe powersit
has and the powersithas coming.
The womenwhorose duringthe Referendumcampaign have plentyof ideas.Overandover,
women’seconomicindependencewasseenaskeytofull liberation(yesthatwordisbeingused
again). Womenneedindependentincomestheycanlive on sothat theycan make independent
choicesabouthowtheywant to live.Theyneeddecentsocial housingsothattheyare not trapped
by abusive partners.
That meansgoingback to the thinkingthatunderpinnedthe introductionof childbenefit,whichput
moneydirectlyintowomen’shands.Itmeansgoingbackto the valuesof a generation that
understoodthere wasnodignityinhangingaboutthe factorygateson a Fridayto catch a man
before he disappearedintothe pubwithhispaypacket.
Today’swomenstandonthe shouldersof our mothers.We owe itto themto claw back what has
beenlostandbuilda future where the equalityof womenisagiven.
I wishthisGovernmentwell.Itwill dowellif itgovernsinthe spiritof the Yesmovement.Itwill do
well if itremembersthatpolitical partiesnolongerhave the monopolyonpolitics. Itwill dowellif
realisespoliciesshouldnolongerappearbymagicin manifestosatelectiontime.
My message toNicola?Ourdooris alwaysopentoo.