Tories let Glasgow perish

By Bernard Thompson

Published in the Scottish Socialist Voice, September 2002

Much of the poverty that has blighted Glasgow for the past 50 years was deliberately inflicted on the city because of the strength of socialism amongst its people.

That is the conclusion that has been drawn after evidence, uncovered recently, pointed to a deliberate Scottish Office plan to undermine the city.

The findings of historian, Professor Ian Levitt, reveal that concerted efforts were made to drive industry and jobs from Glasgow to reduce the city's population by half.

Secret papers from the Board of Trade to Scottish ministers, from the 1960s outlined the thinking on Glasgow:"

"The Department of Health have naturally been anxious to ensure that no major new industry to Scotland should go to Glasgow... Since about 1953 the Department of Health have sought the co-operation in discouraging large projects from settling in Glasgow... This line of action became progressively more embarrassing when unemployment in Glasgow increased.

"At the time of the passing of the Local Employment Act, the DHS had further conversations with the Office with the object of seeking assurances that the effect of the act would not be to renew pressure to bring industry to Glasgow."

Professor Levitt's evidence also points to the bulldozing of communities like the Gorbals as forming part of a conscious plan to destroy the socialist heart of Glasgow. Previously, the destruction of tenements and the dissipation of Glaswegians has generally been thought of as a well-meaning but flawed plan to address the living conditions of Glasgow's poor.

Another historian, Dr Irene Maver, believes that there are good grounds for believing that Glasgow's poor were made to suffer for the city's political traditions:
"Memories of the Red Clydeside of the 1920s and 30s were still fresh. We know Scottish Office officials had a terrible fear of Glasgow, the huge political machine, the powerhouse of Labour politics.

"The Tories wanted to stop Glasgow spreading out, becoming a huge juggernaut they could not control. That mentality still exists."

Glaswegians will, no doubt, have been reassured to hear that Jack McConnell has given his word that Glasgow's poor will never be treated unfairly again.