Left Q&A - Neil Findlay
Neil Findlay is a former Member of the Scottish Parliament and was the left’s candidate for the Scottish Labour leadership in 2014. His most recent book is “If You Don't Run They Can't Chase You - stories from the frontline of the fight for social justice”. He is one of the founders of Unity Consulting. Follow him on Twitter at @Neilsocialist
How would you define your politics? I am a socialist and my socialism is rooted in the former mining community I live in. All of the things I have experienced and witnessed have convinced me more than ever that a planned, socialist economy is the answer to the biggest problems we face - inequality, hunger, the housing crisis, the funding of public services, the need for full employment and the climate emergency. Capitalism created these problems only socialism can solve them.
What book has had the biggest influence on your political outlook? The Benn Diaries - I go back to them time and time again. Tony Benn was the greatest political communicator of my life to date. His ability to explain the world and the alternatives to the status quo was inspirational.
And what book are you currently reading? Small Town Girl by Donna McLean - a remarkable and very disturbing true story of one woman’s experience of falling in love with an undercover police officer who was sent to spy on her and her friends. I was heavily involved in trying to get a public inquiry into the Spycops scandal in Scotland.
Which figure or figures from history do you take inspiration from? The early trade union leaders who risked so much to fight injustice, the Red Clydesiders and the miners leaders of the 80s who inspired me to get involved in politics
Name one issue on which you have changed your mind. Decriminalisation of drugs - I used to be very opposed to this and thought it was a ridiculous idea. Now having seen Scotland claim the title as the drugs death capital of Europe with 3 times more drugs deaths than England and having met and discussed the issue with drug users, people in recovery and experts in the field I am one hundred per cent convinced decriminalisation is right - the war on drugs has been a disaster, we have to take a radical alternative approach similar to Portugal.
What one thing do you most dislike about how we do politics (and how would you change it)? The lack of independent thought amongst politicians. I detest the way people simply follow the party line even when it is self-evidently wrong.
What media do you turn to for news and analysis? I look at all the media but Channel 4 is good as is the Guardian website and in Scotland the Herald can be good. I always read the Morning Star and for all its faults the BBC news and website are still essential.
Where do you do your thinking? When I am away in my camper van and when I am fishing on the rivers and lochs of Scotland.
Name five songs or pieces of music you couldn’t live without. Mr Bojangles by Nina Simone; All Kinds of Everything by Terry Hall and Sinead O’Connor; Dirty Old Town by Ewan MacColl; anything by the Jam; A Message To You Rudy by the Specials - I murder this at the Karaoke.
Is there a building that you love and if so, what is it? The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral - I have family members who live in the great city of Liverpool and I try to visit this amazing building whenever I go. Inside it is the most beautiful, amazing and inspiring place with gorgeous, modern features and stained glass windows.
What is your favourite film with a political theme or content? Mississippi Burning is a fantastic political film and I love Riff Raff as it is set against the background of the construction industry which I worked in.
Is there an artist or artwork that connects to your political viewpoint? Not particularly, I like a lot of different art forms - I love the big murals that are painted on the gable end walls of tenements in Glasgow. I also love iconic public art sculptures like the Angel of the North and the Kelpies. I hate art snobbery and the pretentiousness around some of it.
If you had a parliamentary majority for a day, what one law would you pass? The eradication of poverty act - I would make every Prime or First Minister accountable to the people for eradicating poverty and health and wealth inequality - there would be mandatory, independent verification of policy and statistics by the UN and a set of extensive measures to address the inequality gap.
If you could choose to witness one moment in history, what would it be? The release of Mandela and election of a him as President - the optimism of those events was overwhelming
Is there a living political figure or movement that gives you hope? The people in the community I live in give me hope. Every day I see the most selfless acts of kindness, generosity and compassion often from those who do not have much themselves. If Government Ministers and most senior politicians had the decency, integrity, honesty and humanity of so many of the working class people I meet in our community and in my work then we would have a much better society.