Robin McAlpine explores what policy issues are up for grabs

It is one of the disingenuous chants of the political classes – “disgrace, disgrace, stick to the issues!” This is what they shout when it is their turn in the cycle of electioneering to be on the receiving end of negative campaigning rather than when they are dishing it out. But hell, let’s take them at their word and stick to the issues. An election is fought partly on the ground of who is most competent to govern, but even in the dumbed-down media campaigns of the last decade or so it is still fought partly on a manifesto, a portfolio of policies and promises. In Scotland we are blessed (at least in UK terms) with real choice and genuine diversity. One can, if one wants, vote for the nutty right-wing platform of the New Party and, if a reasonable number of cranks follow, actually elect someone. And yet, and yet…

Perhaps it should be considered a success of political discourse (although I have my doubts) but on the substantive business of what is to be done the main parties really aren’t that far apart. If one filters out promises and focuses on policies, the truth is that there isn’t all that much which separates the main parties in Scotland. By promises I mean “more police on the beat”, “reducing bureaucracy” etc.; perfectly admirable aims but not, I’m afraid, a programme for government. These issues of micro-management may make a difference to people’s lives but they do not fundamentally change our lives. Surely that is what we are looking for on the second of May, the beginning of a change which will really end the failures of our society? In case we have become immune to the importance of the task, remind yourself what poverty and despair actually mean for people. And in case we have really come to believe that nothing can change, ask yourself how we can have hand-held video phones like something out of StarTrek but a transport system like something out of Indiana Jones?

So what is really up for grabs, policy-wise, at this election? There is depressingly little in the policies of the main parties which hinges on your vote, so perhaps that places even more weight on those that do. The first, and by far the most obvious, is the constitutional arrangements. I’m very interested in Scottish politics, but even I glaze over now when the ‘structural deficit’ ping-pong gets going. What is offensive is the idea that Scotland couldn’t survive on its own even if it wanted to. To their credit, there are few Labour politicians in Scotland who will argue this case now. The question is, as it should be, do we want independence (or another step along the way in greater powers for the Parliament), or do we not? The split on this one is straightforward – if your answer is not, Labour, the Tories and (basically) the Lib Dems will give you that (although they are more comfortable with the idea of an increasingly federal structure in the UK). If your answer is yes, any other party will give you that.

The SSP has some interesting ideas – its approach to the drugs issue, for example, or using the Scottish Enterprise budget to improve public sector pay and conditions. However, without some seismic shift in voting patterns, the SSP is unlikely to have an opportunity to implement this agenda (although anything is possible if there are complex coalition negotiations). Likewise the Greens who, naturally, have policies (as opposed to fig leaves) on issues of sustainability and social equity.

This leaves four main battle grounds; general economic policy, the funding of public capital programmes and the reforms of local government elections and finance. Perhaps the least interesting of these is economic policy, not least because it is really a debate over the future of Scottish Enterprise. Labour favours a ‘steady as she goes’ policy, continuing down the path we have been following, while the SNP – despite the general discrediting of ‘trickledown’ theory – would use the enterprise budget to reduce business tax. It is a sign of our confused political times that the Tory policy of scrapping Scottish Enterprise and using the money to invest in infrastructure – particularly transport – may be the most popular option for many on the left.

The situation on voting reform in local government is more complex. The Lib Dems are of course entirely committed, as are the SNP. With the Labour Party it is difficult to tell. They are nominally committed, but this puts them at odds with those in the party who hate the idea of losing their local hegemony. It seems inconceivable that strengthened Lib Dems (a likely outcome of the election) will fail to force Labour’s hand this time, but many would have said the same thing last time. The question of local government finance is one where it seems inexplicable more parties are not proposing reform. The SSP position of introducing a much more progressive Service Tax and the similar Lib Dem local income tax policy seem to make good sense, but even a more cautious approach could bring in new resources and make the system fairer by adding a couple of extra bands at the top end of the Council Tax scale.

What is in fact one of the biggest battlegrounds is the funding of public services where, with none of the main parties showing a taste for raising tax and with borrowing prohibited, the battle is between PFI (I can’t bring myself to call it PPP) and the SNP’s Public Service Trusts. The trusts may fall short of the sensible option – low interest current constitutional position it is at least an attempt to keep private profit out of our schools and hospitals.

So what is the conclusion? Ahhh, but this is a democracy and there isn’t any conclusion. Perhaps you hate PFI but strongly oppose independence. Perhaps you want greater powers for the Parliament but not if they are used to subsidise business. Perhaps you just don’t trust the leadership of the party whose policy priorities most closely match yours. This has of course been written before we see the party manifestoes, and maybe we will be surprised. But the quip that if voting changed anything they’d abolish it isn’t quite true. In at least some areas, your vote will play a part in deciding how Scotland will change over the next four years. It may not be fashionable but, when you’re in the polling booth, at least try to stick to the issues.

Robin McAlpine is Deputy Editor of the Scottish Left Review