What I stand for

THIS is a critical time for the Labour Party and the wider movement. Labour faces an unprecedented electoral challenge across Scotland and, indeed, throughout Britain.

I welcome the fact that all sections of the party will have a real say in the election of the leader and deputy leader at Holyrood.

A full electoral college vote provides the opportunity for a detailed debate about the party's future direction and offers the chance to begin the necessary process of revitalising Labour.

In my view, we need to promote an imaginative, distinctively Labour message. We must stress our historic mission to eradicate poverty in all its forms and to promote social and economic justice.

The need for change in both policy direction and organisation has never been more evident.

We must not only listen to voters' criticisms but be prepared to act upon them. Only if we are seen to engage with the concerns which lie at the heart of people's lives will we be able to restore confidence in the Labour Party.

We need a strong leadership team at Holyrood which will work with all sections of the party to shape a progressive policy programme and build the modern organisational structure needed to deliver it.

I will be calling for a root-and-branch review of the party's structure and constitution to meet the demands of the 21st century political arena.

I also pledge to involve all members and affiliates in a revamped policy forum process, an inclusive process in which all members can play a full part.

It is my belief that the voice of Labour's membership is central to the party's policy-making process and campaigning strategy.

If we are to win back the confidence of former Labour supporters, the membership needs to feel that it is again in control of the party's direction. A self-confident party able to present a distinctive programme of practical reform to the electorate is a necessary prerequisite for victory.

I will argue in favour of policies which tackle poverty and inequality, promote jobs, develop people's skills and widen access to education and training, encourage parity of esteem between Holyrood and local government, enable democratic involvement, create safer communities, support culture and sport, build a better integrated, more responsive transport system, protect our environment, provide lifelong educational opportunities for all and improve our NHS.

Policies that make a difference, including:

• The taking back into public ownership of the railways
• The reregulation of buses
• The establishment of a Scottish investment bank
• The expansion of guaranteed apprenticeships
• A root and branch reform of the council tax
• Greater investment in public-sector rented housing
• An equality of funding between PFI and conventional procurement, with a view to developing alternative strategies to PFI which will ensure that schools and hospitals are built and run by the public sector.

Additionally, MSPs at Holyrood must work with their Westminster colleagues and the trade unions to develop policies in reserved areas which will make a positive difference to working men and women's day-to-day lives.

Policies which promote fairness at work, decent pensions and adequate investment funds for support for our manufacturing base.

For example, in the area of fairness at work, we need a review of changes in employment tribunal regulations, including reinstatement.

Also, there should be a new compact with contractors and unions to ensure that, when government issues contracts for services, employees have access to trade unions, advice, basic training and skills.

In respect of pensions, there needs to be an agreement to engage in effective dialogue over the future of public-sector pensions and the introduction of TUPE-style protection to include pensions affected by a company transfer or merger.

A policy programme which took this tack would, in my judgement, prove popular with voters and allow Labour to recover lost electoral ground at every level of government.

Labour, both at Holyrood and Westminster, needs to say unambiguously that it believes in the achievement of equality. I believe that a democratic socialist message must be central to our vision if we are to reinvigorate the party and build electoral support for it.

However, we need a focused, cotordinated approach across all sections of the party to carry that socialist message into the constituencies and we must campaign alongside communities as they wrestle with the damaging results of SNP incompetence.

As deputy leader, I will bring the voice of the movement directly to the shadow cabinet at Holyrood. I will not hesitate to articulate the views of the party membership.

I will work with members to rebuild the party's organisational structure. We need to build up our membership and rediscover our campaigning edge in communities across Scotland.

I will assist in the process of building a centre-left coalition which acknowledges the concerns and aspirations of the people and can carry us to victory in 2011.

The above is an outline of the approach that I will argue for during the campaign and would, if elected, seek to put in place after September 13.

Bill Butler is the Labour/Co-op MSP for Glasgow Anniesland and a candidate for deputy leader at Holyrood.