SCOTTISH Labour should change its name, back sweeping new powers for Holyrood and refuse to co-operate with the Conservatives in any future independence referendum, according a group of party activists.
The radical set of ideas will be promoted at a meeting in Glasgow this Saturday and could result in a new internal pressure group being formed to turn Labour into a party of self-determination.
The group's draft agenda also states that party members were left "confused, angry and alienated" at Labour's decision to join forces with the Tories in Better Together.
Scottish Labour helped defeat independence last month, but the result left many party members worried, as heartlands like Glasgow voted Yes.
The mixed result has produced a bout of soul-searching within Scottish Labour on how to reconnect with supporters and produce a bold policy offering to voters.
The Sunday Herald can reveal that senior activists - including former party spin doctor Andrew McFadyen, Glasgow councillor Jon Findlay, Clydebank and Milngavie office bearer Helen Williams and Fife member Willie Sullivan - have drawn up a far-reaching blueprint for change.
The prospectus, to be aired at Strathclyde University this week, notes that the referendum represented "an extraordinary political awakening" in Scotland.
It claims the risks of independence advanced by Better Together "sounded thin to those who have little to risk" and urged Labour to set out a "radical agenda for home rule in the 21st century".
The activists' statement calls for Labour to "assert Scotland's right to self-determination" and back the devolution of welfare powers, broadcasting, all income tax and "substantial economic and industrial" levers.
It also urges a policy of "non co-operation" with the Tories if another independence referendum is called.
In addition, the statement calls for the Scottish party to be "fully autonomous" from UK Labour and equipped with the power to appoint its full-time officials and write its own constitution.
More radically, the activists urge "consideration" of changing the party's name to the Independent Labour Party (ILP). The original ILP was formed in 1893 by Labour icon Keir Hardie.
The group's style has echoes of Scottish Labour Action, the pro-devolution body set up in the 1980s to ensure Labour delivered a Scottish Parliament with teeth. An earlier draft was written under the banner of Scottish Labour Action 2014.
Speakers confirmed to address the event include Unison's Scottish organiser Dave Watson, former MSP Pauline McNeill and Scottish Trades Union Congress deputy general secretary Dave Moxham.
The trio's appearance does not necessarily mean they agree with the radical agenda.
However, a senior party source said of McFadyen: "Andrew's radical agenda was strangely missing from his application to be a candidate for Scottish Labour last year. He was rejected by his local party to be their candidate recently and clearly isn't taking it well."
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Labour already has a distinct Scottish identity with its own party and leadership but can draw on the strength of being part of a UK movement."
l Editorial: Page 42
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article