Crown Office rules out holding a fatal accident inquiry into death of forestry worker in Scottish forest

 Unpublished Landworker article - June 2021 

 

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), which is responsible for crime prosecution in Scotland, has ruled that ‘it would not be in the public interest to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry in relation to the death’ of Lesley Whitfield, aged 42, who died on 28 November 2018, in an incident involving a quad bike in a forest near Castle Douglas.

The decision followed an HSE investigation into Whitfield’s death, who was one of 32 workers killed in 2018-19 across the agricultural, forestry and fishing sector, around 22 per cent of the UK total of 147 deaths.

A year previous to the tragedy, Unite had warned through its Forestry Commission lead rep Neil Grieve that in Scotland: “Private companies are doing some of the harvesting, road repairs and replanting. This could reduce the direct workplace and we are aware that, just like in Wales, the employees are not enjoying decent terms and conditions.

“They are being exploited by being employed on zero-hours contracts. For the first time in my 30-year career I have seen planting contractors who are living in tents in the forests.” Unsurprisingly, very few workers across the private companies are trade union members.

In response to the COPFS decision a spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) said “We are not in a position to comment on the individual circumstances in this case.  However, the health and safety of our contractors continues to be  the top priority for the agency– from the tendering and procurement phase right through to contract delivery.

“Every year we are independently audited to ensure we are meeting the standards laid out in the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). Amongst other requirements, the standard sets out employee and contractor’s rights to trade union membership, pay exceeding the statutory national living wage, access to a grievance procedure and relevant measures relating to compliance and conformance (including anti-corruption) and workers’ rights (measuring compliance with workers’ rights legislation).”

Nevertheless, planting contractors on FLS land in the winter months are still living in makeshift camp sites.

It is clear, and is confirmed by the article elsewhere in this magazine on the seasonal workers project, that land-based workers in Scotland are being expected to endure living conditions that should not be acceptable in the 21^st century.

 

Long standing Labour Party member Gerard Dempsey's resignation from the party

 

21  July 2021

 

 

David Evans

Acting GS

Labour Party

Southside

London

 

 

Dear Comrade,

 

Re: Gerard Dempsey Resignation with Immediate Effect


I write to resign my membership and record my utmost disgust at the ongoing misconduct by the so called Leadership, acting GS, Officers and most of the current inept PLP.

 

It is a challenge to keep it brief at the toxic nature of the above and almost any tangible trace of socialist values from the party. 

 

 

 

1

Expunging socialism from the party and attacks on decent socialists.

 

2

Whipping up bogus Anti semitsm with right wing groups and the BoD.

 

Whilst engaging in racism and inequality against other groups including by MPs and staff towards muslims, blacks, gypsies and travellers.

 

Failing to defend Palestinians from the brutal oppression and genocide by the Israel state including murder, torture, ethnic cleansing of palestinians.

 

 

3

We have witnessed Assaf Kaplan being hired by Labour as a social listening and organising manager, a new post described as “a crucial new role at the heart of Labour’s new approach to digital campaigning”.

 

The complaint from Bindmans solicitors alleges that Kaplan worked for Unit 8200, the cyber branch of the Israeli Defence Force, from 2009 to 2013. It adds that the unit has been mired in controversy over its surveillance practices against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza.

 

 

 

4

The party failure to suspend /expel all those Cllrs involved in the Rotherham CSE Grooming that caused over 1600 children to be sexually abused and raped. The lack of safeguarding and the Coverups on an industrial scale for years.

 

Failure of the LP to deal with above complaints on the above for many years; then again approving the same unfit Cllrs to 

re-stand.

 

 

 

5

 

Rotherham Council and other councils embraced tory cuts rather than fight.

 

They ignored the valiant campaign to save Day Care Centres in Rotherham that every major union, socialists, communities  and over 100, 000 who signed petitions, campaigned and opposed  the Council's pernicious  closure of every Learning Disability Day Care centre in Rotherham serving the most vulnerable.

 

6

On the NHS bill we are treated with  a

kak handed policy.

 

Labour is rightly voting against I believe and yet it is Labour Cllrs who have sat in the integrated care partnerships for 2-3 years and which are now to be key to further NHS destruction

 

Not one Labour Cllr has ever resigned from being a member of the integrated care partnerships.

 

Its all about the cash and gravy train.

 

 

Just 32 Labour MPs (approximately 16%) signed the motion opposing the USA takeover & wholesale privatisation of our NHS.

 

Labour should be Standing up for our NHS night & Day to defend our frontline heroes.

 

They should be Exposing the sale of the NHS 24/7.

 

But They won't, they are funded by spivs, fat cats and several Private Health Vultures.

 

Labour are reduced to flogging off NHS/Labour pin badges

 

 

 

7

Undermining the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn for 5 years by most of the PLP and GLU staff.

 

Recklessly and deliberate acts to lose the 2017 and 2019 elections.

 

Putting forward the 2nd brexit referendum by Starmer that was incendiary and toxic on the doorsteps despite the most welcome and progressive manifesto for generations.

 

 

 

8

Emma Dent Coad was spot on with her recent comments about the Establishment clone 

Sir Starmer. We are under no illusions about Starmer as he continues his merry way to wreak destruction on the Labour Party on behalf of the Establishment, with whom Starmer is very unified.

 

https://skwawkbox.org/2021/07/03/former-mp-dent-coad-i-dont-know-what-toxic-labour-stands-for-any-more-video/

 

 

 

Starmar jailed julian assange on a pack of wicked lies for the Establishment.

 

https://skwawkbox.org/2021/06/29/uk-media-ignores-as-us-case-against-assange-falls-apart-after-accuser-admits-lying-about-hacking/

 

 

All part of preserving the status quo  for  the establishment with Starmers dodgy involvement in the Trilateral commision.

 

 

 

9

Finally, Keir Starmer refused to sign Unite’s letter demanding an end to fire & rehire. 

It says so much. Disgraceful. 

Time he showed some guts and passion by genuinely talking for workers. 

It’s pathetic.

 

 

10

Covid:

Starmer and his front bench failed to challenge the Government for months including on lack of PPE and duty of care to our  NHS and social care staff. They were woefully silent and in a state of paralysis.

 

The movement and public had to do it.

 

Then Starmer infamously pushed the government to re-open schools, “No ifs, no buts, no equivocation” – and schools promptly became the main driver for the new ‘Delta’ third wave of the pandemic.

 

They refused to heed the pleas by our dedicated teaching staff and their trade unions.

 

We had a footballer who had to lead the just fight for free school meals. Whilst Sir keith was too busy waiting for  his focus groups to tell him which way to go!

 

At best, Starmer is totally inept, out of his depth and got dreadful judgement.

 

 

 

11

The failure to publish the findings of the Forde Inquiry.

 

Using members and trade union monies to reward wrongdoing of party staff instead of dismissing them for gross misconduct.

 

Plotting against party members

 

There is nothing in the custom & practice of Labour’s best traditions that prevents members from voicing criticisms of the current leadership. 

 

Plotting, scheming, diverting election monies - now that would be different!

 

 

 

12

The above factors demonstrate the appointment of an unfit and not fit for purpose acting Labour GS.

 

 

13

A Leadership that has been took over again by Neo liberalism and  that has rode roughshod over the values & principles of the movement.

 

Behaving more like a Tory Reserve 2nd eleven or bargain basement Tory Tribute band.

 

It's difficult to have principles when you frankly don't believe in anything under the current leadership.

 

 

When you inherit the largest socialist party in Europe, lose over 115k members on YOUR watch, alienate loyal Left trade unionists, create disunity, take your party to the brink of bankruptcy. And your answer is to proscribe groupings. Its absolutely appalling.

 

 

 

14

The latest attacks on socialist groups and members.

 

What has happened to the values of 

UKLabour when members  and MPs can jump in bed with those who attacked trade unionists, Liverpool supporters and phone tapping families like Milly Dowler. 

 

As they brief & write for The Sun, seek the support of Murdoch, without fear of discipline.

 

But going to political schools to understand the relevance & application of the theories of Marxism creates panic.

 

 

 

"An attack on one, is an attack on us all

 

We stand in Solidarity"

 

 

I have broken free from my chains.

 

I have cancelled my direct debits.

 

 

My conscience will not tolerate it for a moment longer to now belong to a party that has lost its moral compass.

 

It now exists in name only - it stains and violates real labour values of our Movement.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ged

 

Gerard  Dempsey

 

A189388

Wentworth & Dearne CLP

 

Former Unite the Union Executive Member

Print & Media Sector - GPM&IT Sector

 

 

 

Bert Whalley and Manchester United

 

Bert Whalley and Manchester United

After moving to the club from Stalybridge Celtic in May 1934, Bert made his Manchester United debut against Doncaster Rovers at Old Trafford on 30 November 1935. The match ended in a 0-0 draw before a crowd of 23,569.

In a playing career cut short by WWII, during which he played for United and Bolton Wanderers in unofficial wartime competitions, and injury, Whalley went on to make 32 League and 6 FA Cup appearances for Manchester United.  His final game for Manchester United was at home to Blackburn Rovers in Division One on 19 April 1947. This resulted in a 4-0 victory before a 46,196 crowd. With Old Trafford out of use due to war damage this game was played at Maine Road, Manchester City’s ground at the time.

Central League winners medal

 Whalley was by now the longest serving professional at Old Trafford and in 1946-47 he led the reserves to the Central League championship. The Manchester Evening News of 18 March 1947 said of him; “The experience of Bert Whalley is a real asset to Manchester United…. signed from Stalybridge Celtic in 1934. His transfer cost nothing, but he has turned out as an invaluable utility player – as pivot, wing-half and even full-back.”

In his final first team game the Manchester United side was Jack Crompton, Johnny Carey, John Aston senior, Jack Warner, Whalley, Henry Cockburn, Jimmy Delaney, Johnny Morris, Jimmy Hanlon, Stan Pearson, Jack Rowley 

Manchester United had ended the 1946-47 season as runners-up in Division One but nevertheless Matt Busby took seriously the comment of Jimmy Murphy, who had managed the successful Central League side that season, when he told him there was not one reserve who could strengthen the first team. Busby replied; “in that case we will have to find our own youngsters.”

Serious injury

Later in 1947, Whalley, who according to Jimmy Murphy, manager Matt Busby’s assistant, always describe described himself as “just an honest trier”, was coaching some schoolboys at Stockport County when a miskicked ball hit him in the eye. The player did not complain until on the way to a reserve match at Newcastle United, he confessed that he was having trouble with his vision.

Loyalty

On visiting a Tyneside hospital, he refused to be kept in and returned to Manchester for treatment. On Christmas Eve 1947, a depressed Whalley faced losing his sight in one eye and the end of his football career. It was then that Matt Busby showed one of the reasons why he was a great manager by demonstrating loyalty. Busby, who had become manager at United in 1946, told Whalley that when left hospital he had just the job. In August 1948, Whalley replaced Arthur Gale as the man in charge of Manchester United’s ‘A’ side, the third team at the club.

Manchester United won the FA Cup in 1948 and over the next three seasons (1948-49 to 1950-51) Manchester United finished twice in second place and once in fourth. They won the title in 1951-52 but when they slipped back to eighth in 1952/53, Busby undertook a major reshuffle as the emphasis moved to youth with Duncan Edwards, aged 17, Jackie Blanchflower, aged 20, playing regularly in 1953-54. Tommy Taylor was signed from Barnsley. Dennis Viollet, aged 20, scored 11 goals in 29 appearances. David Pegg, 19, played nine games and Bill Foulkes, 21, made 32 appearances. 22-year-old Ray Wood became the number one goalkeeper.

Aided by the experience of Roger Byrne and John Berry, Manchester United won the title in 1955-56 with a side known as the ‘Busby Babes.’

The search for talent

Busby explained what was key to the success. ‘We search relentlessly for young talent. Jimmy Murphy and Bert Whalley are two of the finest spotters in the land. We look for boys who have decent ball control, who can pass, and shoot, show ball sense and some form of positional play, and are useful with their headwork. These are the bare fundamentals and we look for a boy’s qualities that will enhance this development, namely keenness and love of the game. These will ensure he will spend hours perfecting his ability, and ride the inevitable disappointments, and avoid arrogance.

“Our greatest asset is the floodlit practice ground at Salford. Here, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings we coach the youngsters who have just left school. Jimmy Murphy and Bert Whalley are in charge. I take charge when I have the time. In the practice matches here, the lads get an early sense of our system and tactics. We prefer to produce a few new players.

“When the youngsters have developed sufficiently, they join senior practice sessions….this ensures that the young players are ready for the big day when they play in the first team…………..I estimate that 80 per cent of our ‘Babes’ turn out well…”

The faith that Busby placed in Murphy and Whalley and also Joe Armstrong, the Manchester United chief scout, served him well as Manchester United again won the title in 1956-57 and also reached the FA Cup final.

It was also the season when Busby refused to be deterred by the ‘Little Englander’ attitude of many of the football authorities and politicians who felt English teams should not enter the new European Cup competition that had kicked off in 1955-56. Manchester United did well in the competition in 1956-57 and were beaten by a quite brilliant Real Madrid side in the semi-final.

The two sides both reached the semi-final stages of the competition in 1957-58. What a final that would have been! But, as we know, by the time of the final many of the Busby Babes and one of the men who helped them to develop into the stars they were – and still are, 63 years on – in Bert Whalley had tragically lost their lives at Munich on 6 February 1958.

Who are Refugees and Migrants? What makes people leave their homes and other Big Questions

 

Who are Refugees and Migrants?

What makes people leave their homes and other Big Questions

Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young

£9.99 from Wayland Books

Growing disaffection with mainstream institutions and political parties, many of whom have embraced austerity has, encouraged the rise of anti-immigration movements and of the far right. 

With the assistance of many newspapers this has strengthened the perception of immigration as being responsible for the social and economic problems faced by working-class communities. Anger, hostility and mistrust towards refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants has thus jumped across society.

In turn this has diverted attention away from the ruling class that continues to increase its share of material wealth and which has the most widespread influence over political and economic decisions that affect all classes.

Of course, the ruling class, along with its wealth, has no problems moving freely across the globe. Is this fair treatment for all?

If young people are to help build a better world it is important that they are given opportunities to understand migration and the movement of people in all its forms. This short, illustrated  book, aimed at anyone from aged 10 upwards, does this.

Central to the book, which includes role-play exercises, are highly interesting testimonies from migrants, which have existed since time immemorial, refugees and asylum seekers. Many have made significant contributions to society.

“I hope people realise that asylum seekers want to be active, responsible and self-reliant members of society and demonisation is not helpful.” Dr Mohammad Razai, from Afghanistan, now a doctor and medical researcher in the UK.

Readers are encouraged to walk in someone else's shoes before judging them. To imagine how they – and their loved ones - might act if they faced persecution, famine, abject poverty or were stuck in a war zone such as Syria or Libya with no hope of a better future. Where might they consider going to? How would they get there? Who can help?

In comparison, suppose the reader had power and influence? Refugees and migrants have rights with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drawn up after the horrors of WWII, agreeing a set of basic principles that include ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ Are these rights being upheld?

The final part of the book asks what happens when society deliberately separates cultures and people and examines Nazi Germany, apartheid in South Africa and racial segregation in the USA. Did you know that on 14 November 1960 in New Orleans six-year-old, Ruby Bridges as the first African American child to go to a school that had been until then all-white? Initially ostracised she was eventually successful when other African American children joined the school too and it became ‘integrated.’ This positive example, one of many in the book, shows how it is possible to overcome prejudices and build a better world for all.

“This book reflects  the type of society we live in. A crucial task of education is to develop empathy for the disadvantaged amongst students, but also to enable students to see migrants and refugees as human beings, just like themselves. This book by Rosen and Young is a valuable educational resource because it supports us in doing just that - getting beyond politicised and discriminatory headlines, helping young people to relate to the lived experiences of migrants and refugees and, hopefully, ensuring that they can think differently about migration and come up with ways to make the border policies that dehumanise migrants more humane.”

Daniel Whittall, NEU rep, teacher of Geography and Economics

 

Authors: Michael Rosen was Children's Laureate from 2007-2009. He is one of the best-known figures in the children's book world, renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter. Annemarie Young is a writer of fiction and non-fiction for children, and an editorial consultant for children's books and primary education. She was a publisher for many years and has worked with hundreds of children's authors and illustrators.

 

 

STOP FUNDING COLOMBIA BRUTALITY CALL Unite urges MPs to back early day motion

 

STOP FUNDING COLOMBIA BRUTALITY CALL

Unite urges MPs to back early day motion

Justice for Colombia wants Unite members to urge their MP to sign an early day motion (EDM) calling on the Government to condemn the excessive use of force by the Colombian security forces and to review its training and funding of the police in the South American Republic. As of June 28, 90 MPs had signed the EDM.

On 28 April, trade unions, backed by peasant, indigenous and numerous social groups, organised a well-supported nationwide strike. The demand for the withdrawal of deeply repressive tax changes and a pro-privatisation health care bill was key. 

But the protests also formed part of ongoing mobilisations that aligned themselves to demands to tackle poverty levels;  address the human rights crisis and ensure the implementation of the 2016 Havana peace agreement, which ended the long running war between the Colombian government and FARC-EP guerrillas. Justice for Colombia played a crucial role in building the peace deal.

By April 30, 19 demonstrators had been killed and President Duque had been forced to abandon the tax reform. Decades of state assassinations of trade unionists, journalists, political and community leaders helped fuel massive protests when social media showed numerous attacks on demonstrators. Police stations were destroyed in the capital, Bogota.

Army battalions and police officers were deployed against peaceful protestors. Death squads, a key component of the Colombian state’s weaponry against its citizens, attacked indigenous groups. Massive human rights violations, especially by ESMAD, the riot police, were committed by state forces.

But the people would not submit and according to Justice for Colombia the demonstrations, including general assemblies that emerged, intensified and were ‘characterised by the mobilisation of young Colombians from poor neighbourhoods… who have become the so-called front line resisting ever-increasing levels of police brutality.’

On May 19 the health bill was abandoned but this success had come at a cost as between 28 April and 20 May there were at least 43 deaths of Colombian citizens as well as thousands of arbitrary detentions. The killings have continued with ESMAD killing Jaime Alonso Fandino, aged 33, on 21 June. He was shot in the chest from close range.

Colombia’s rich natural resources has traditionally made it an investment target for overseas companies and the UK is the second largest investor there after the USA.

This investment might explain why amidst the carnage, overseas governments have remained unwilling to criticise the Colombian authorities.

EU Ambassador, Patricia Llombart, reported in late May that ‘the 17 Ambassadors of the EU in Colombia give our backing to dialogue and negotiation as the only path to a sustainable solution to the crisis.’

The UK government has refused to condemn the actions of the Duque administration and in a letter on May 27 to the Parliamentary Human Rights Group it continued to boast of the training that Police Scotland are providing to Colombian police and military. This follows a five-year programme between 2015-2020 where the Tories spent £2.3 million in which training was provided by the National Crime Agency for the Colombian police, including very possibly militarised units.

The UK Government is also allowing the sale of equipment to Colombia that could be used for human rights abuses.

Justice for Colombia, formed in 2002 by British trade unions,  promotes solidarity links to Colombia civil society. Many Unite branches are affiliated but if yours is not then consider doing so by visiting www.justiceforcolombia.org

To see if your MP has signed the EDM visit www.justiceforcolombia.org/news/urge-your-mp-to-sign-early-day-motion-on-state-violence-in-colombia/

Pride marches by Betty Gallacher

Betty Gallacher podcast on Pride marches. Betty organised a highly colourful T&G bus float for many years on London Pride and today organises Eastbourne Pride, which attracted 5,000 in 2019 and will be held in 2021 on 7 August. 

 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TFBQ4lDvx8yLj9khvcfkm

No government funds for hedges: Rural revitalisation plan excludes hedges

 

 An article from the Big Issue North magazine 

No government funds for hedges 

Rural revitalisation plan excludes hedges

Relatively unsung by nature lovers and Romantic poets, hedgerows are a fundamental aspect of the British countryside. But the government’s post-Brexit vision of a rural revitalisation misses them out, according to critics.

 Hedgerows come in many shapes and sizes, the best ones for wildlife being broadest at the bottom with woody species such as hawthorn, hazel and field maple. Hedges provide shelter and nesting opportunities for woodland and farmland birds. Nectar, berries, nuts and leaves are food for mammals, birds and invertebrates. They can also help reduce soil erosion and water run-off on arable land. According to Natural England, hedgerows also preserve carbon stocks and wildlife that may have taken centuries to develop.

“A romantic view”

Historically, hedgerows were planted to show ownership boundaries. Many were laid on common land during the enclosures beginning in the 18th century to exclude people who previously used the land. In the 1980s, the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy encouraged farmers to pull them down by offering subsidies to make fields bigger. It proved disastrous, with the loss of 23 per cent of hedgerows during the decade.

But Charlie Clutterbuck, a North West agricultural soil scientist, believes Boris Johnson’s statement that “we will use the new freedoms we have after leaving the EU Common Agricultural Policy to support farmers to beautify the landscape” excludes hedgerow restoration and is instead a call for big vistas, reservoirs and rivers.

 “It is a romantic view of the countryside,” said Clutterbuck. “You would imagine hedgerows should be in there somewhere – most people would back this – but I have yet to see any words confirming this. Johnson is playing to the City, to big finance who are being invited to make bids under the new Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF).”

Government regulations in 1997 sought to reverse the loss of hedgerows, preventing their removal without local planning permission. The EU also sought to repair some of the damage by later introducing ecological focus areas that included hedgerows.

Funding cuts

Anecdotal evidence suggests the total amount of hedgerows, estimated at 402,000 km across England in 2007, has stabilised, but there is no official data.

Clutterbuck is himself part of a Ribble Valley consortium NEIRF bid led by the Larder Project in Preston, which includes key organisations such as the National Farmers Union. NEIRF will provide natural capital grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 to “people interested in tackling climate change, creating and restoring habitats or improving water quality”.

But he says government guidelines on these improvements do not include aspects such as hedgerows and soil health. Instead, he said much of the money on the bid he worked on is set aside for consultants at £500- £600 a day.

“Money that once went direct to farmers through Countryside Stewardship Schemes is being replaced by the Sustainable Farming Initiative but half of this funding, around £2 billion, will be cut and replaced by schemes that the government has yet to announce, which will be based on NEIRF ideas.

 “These consultants will be focused on attracting large scale funding, whereas in the past farmers big or small got direct payments. Jobs will be lost.

 “I fear that attracting large-scale private sector investment will mean large[1]scale landscape picture box projects rather than a working countryside.

” A Defra spokesperson said: “Our new schemes will enable us to reward the work farmers do to manage every metre of hedgerows on their holdings’ sustainability.” But she did not provide any guarantees that any NEIRF projects would include hedgerows.

 She did not respond when asked whether funds will be used to pay consultants rather than farmers and farm labourers.