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LONDON PLAYBOOK PM: POSTCARD FROM ALLOA

By Emilio Casalicchio
August 22, 2023 6:00 pm CET
>10 minutes read
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Press play to listen to this article

Voiced by artificial intelligence.

Presented by Masdar



By EMILIO CASALICCHIO



PRESENTED BY



Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your
browser

Good afternoon. The Playbook PM tour has been in the Scottish town of Alloa with
SNP MP John Nicolson and his team.


TUESDAY CHEAT SHEET

— Drug deaths in Scotland are still the highest in Europe — and it’s towns like
Alloa, where Playbook PM has been visiting, that are fueling the problem.

— SNP MP John Nicolson argues independence from the U.K. would give the Scottish
government new powers to pull places like Alloa out of the doldrums.

— Labour Leader Keir Starmer sparked a backlash from the Labour left and the
Conservatives for his comments about being unable to afford uni.

— A probe with proper legal footing into NHS handling of early concerns about
Lucy Letby is “on the table,” a Cabinet minister said.

**A message from Masdar: Masdar is active in more than 40 countries across six
continents and has invested, or committed to invest, in worldwide projects with
a combined value of more than US$30 billion. In the UK, we have developed some
of the country’s biggest clean energy projects, including the London Array and
Hywind Scotland. Learn more here.**


POSTCARD FROM ALLOA

ALLOA WORLD: Stats out this morning show Scotland is still the drugs death
capital of Europe — even if things are starting to go in a better direction. And
it’s towns like Alloa in the central lowlands that are fueling the problem.  

Cause and effect: “The lack of jobs here means there’s more people on benefits,”
says Jane McTaggart, local councilor for Clackmannanshire and a staffer for SNP
MP John Nicolson. “That leads them down a path they would not have otherwise
went down had they had the opportunity to go into a job when they were leaving
school. If they had another reality to look for then we wouldn’t necessarily
have so much of a drugs and alcohol problem.” 

How we got here: With its prime location on the banks of the River Forth, Alloa
wasn’t always a hotbed of unemployment. It was once a buzzing port town shipping
goods manufactured in Glasgow and coal from the surrounding areas out across
Europe. For a couple of centuries it proudly boasted its own industries too,
including breweries, distillers, weavers and glassmakers. The small town is
littered with beautiful and ornate sandstone buildings from its boom era.  

Jobs for the girls: “Alloa was affluent; massively, massively affluent,” says
McTaggart. “When I left school I could go to a job in the morning, decide I
didn’t like it and have a different job in the afternoon.” Behind her blue
framed glasses her eyes twinkle with nostalgic reverie.  

But but but: After a slow decline, the port stopped operating in 1970 and much
of the industrial neighborhood slid into trouble, with locals complaining of a
lack support from the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher that
followed. “When we were deindustrialized in the 80s, Alloa’s decline just kept
on going and going and going,” McTaggart laments. Now only one brewer and one
glassworks remain.  

No Forth coming: In the former main industrial zone, the soft tinkling of glass
debris filters out of OI Manufacturing and across the river that was once a
mammoth jack cable plugging Alloa into the rest of the world. Now the Forth is
just another mass of water that carries little more than driftwood bobbing off
its sullen banks. In town, the site of one former brewer now hosts a massive
Asda, while what was once the largest grain distillery in Scotland was ripped
out in 1992.   

Slim pickings: Alloa is a commuter town in the main these days, with tourism and
the leisure sector keeping it on life support. That means eateries like Syriana,
where the scent of fresh mint tea wafts across the small restaurant as co-owner
Hussam Alosh emerges from behind the counter carrying a polka dot tray laden
with colorful drinks.  

Thirsty working: I grab a bright orange mango smoothie while Nicolson plumps for
a pastel green lime juice blended with fresh mint in an ice cream sundae glass.
McTaggart and four other Nicolson staff members crowd in and soon the platter is
almost cleared of tea and juices.   

Seeking refuge in Alloa: Fellow owner Yasser Kanaan takes a clear plate of
mini-baklava pieces from the counter and begins to unwrap it. The former
furniture salesman opened the place in 2019 after arriving as a Syrian refugee
via a UN/U.K. scheme.  

Warning signs: “Everybody told him don’t open in Alloa, because Alloa is a very
small town,” says Alosh, a former accountant who joined his brother-in-law to
help run the restaurant soon after. Kanaan knew it might be a struggle to drum
up business in Alloa, but as if fleeing war and a brutal dictatorship in the
Middle East wasn’t enough, he fancied a challenge.

Setting the scene: The restaurant is decked out in artificial brickwork tiling
with a huge mirror spanning one wall. It reflects a big black and white canvass
of Manhattan opposite — as well as me, Nicholson and his spirited crew of
staffers licking sweet baklava syrup from our fingertips and slurping thick
drinks.   

But even leisure is struggling: Business was good for Kanaan and Alosh before
the pandemic … then the effects of Brexit hit … then the war in Ukraine. Now
it’s tough, as residents have less spare cash and inflation is rampant. Still,
the chicken shawarma and the shish tawook remain hits with the dribble of
customers who keep coming back. And Kanaan, in a blue denim jacket and jeans,
says people in the area do their best to help refugees trying to make a living.
“All people here in Alloa help me when I open,” he says, in broken English.   

Opening time: That might seem unusual for a down and out former industrial town
where joblessness is rife. But the SNP government in Scotland has taken a
different rhetorical approach on refugees to the Conservatives’ battle over
small boat crossings in Westminster — and Scotland had the biggest Remain vote
of the U.K. nations at the Brexit referendum. “You just don’t get votes from
asylum bashing in Scotland,” says Nicolson. “Even the Tories here aren’t quite
as poisonous about immigration as they are south of the border.”  

But but but: It’s not the Tories the SNP need to be worried about in Scotland —
it’s Labour. And themselves. Ever since Nicola Sturgeon stood down as first
minister amid a police probe into SNP finances, support for the nationalists has
been in steep decline, with Labour the main benefactor. The SNP is still four
points ahead, according to the latest YouGov poll, but that’s down from 35
points last November. Internal rows over controversial transgender recognition
proposals and the botched rollout of a bottle deposit scheme haven’t helped.   

Things have been better: “The SNP has faced particular challenges,” Nicolson
admits. Wearing a dark casual jacket over a black t-shirt and with floppy grey
hair, the veteran former broadcaster has the aura of an ageing rockstar. He
walks with a stick as he awaits two hip operations. “Obviously the fact there’s
a police investigation going on is a backdrop that is incredibly unhelpful.”   

To make matters worse … The fight is only getting harder for Nicolson. Under
constituency border changes, his Ochil and South Perthshire seat will become
almost unrecognizable. He’ll take on the new Alloa and Grangemouth seat, which
includes 46 percent of the population of his existing patch but mirrors just a
fraction of the geographical area. In political terms, he’s losing the
traditional Conservative bit of the seat and taking on historic
Labour-supporting areas — and his majority before the change is 4,500.  

The long road: Nicolson argues there’s a “long campaign ahead” and attacks
Scottish Labour as “toothless” for failing to stand up for its beliefs against
“inauthentic” Westminster Leader Keir Starmer and his “right wing” policies —
such as on the gender recognition reforms, nuclear weapons and Brexit.   

And of course … that long campaign is part of an even longer campaign for the
SNP — for Scottish independence. Nicolson argues it’s self-determination that
will help Alloa return to its former peak. Nationalists say a break with the
U.K. would give the Scottish government borrowing powers to invest in urban
regeneration and business; full powers over taxation; control of Scotland’s
copious natural resources; better scope to reconsider its approach to drug
treatment, as SNP Leader Humza Yousaf reiterated this morning; and the chance to
return to the EU, smoothing trade with Europe and welcoming even more
growth-boosting migrant labor.

Bear in mind … few outside the SNP believe a return to the EU would be simple —
or even possible — for an independent Scotland. At least not on the party’s
desired terms, such as without accepting the Euro. Plus, support for
independence is tracking below opposition to it, and the case for another
referendum (which Westminster is not minded to allow) will further weaken if
pro-independence parties fall back at the next election.  

Nevertheless: Nicolson is bullish about the prospects of winning another
referendum after the cause was lost in 2014. “I always thought we would lose the
last referendum,” he says. “I think we’ll win this one. And I think we’ll win it
comfortably” — although he later jokes with Alosh about his move from journalism
into politics: “Some people would say it’s a change from telling the truth to
maybe not telling the truth. But that would be a cynical point of view that I
would not subscribe to,” he laughs.  

Regardless: It’s clear Alloa does need some TLC and further efforts to tackle
the drugs problem — whether that comes from Westminster or a more powerful or
even independent Scottish government. “It was once incredibly grand,” Nicolson
says. “It just needs a little kiss to wake it up.”  




DRIVETIME DEBRIEF

STUDENT POLITICS: Labour Leader Keir Starmer sparked a row with (surprise,
surprise) left-wing group Momentum over his claim he would not be able to afford
to attend uni in the modern era of high inflation and rocketing rents. It said
Starmer should U-turn on his previous U-turn on abolishing tuition fees, adding
that “warm words won’t solve the crisis facing students and universities.”

In response: Appearing in an LBC phone-in, Starmer said the current economic
situation meant Labour would struggle to cancel student fees. But he added: “I
do think the current scheme is unfair and ineffective and that is why we will
change it, so the current scheme will be changed by the incoming Labour
government and we will set out our plans.”

But but but: Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said although she sympathised
with young people hesitant about racking up big student debts, the stats show
it’s wrong to suggest poorer people can’t afford to go to university. “Since
2010 you are now 86 percent more likely to go to university if you are from a
disadvantaged background,” she told Times Radio, pointing to government
bursaries and hardship funds. “Many more than ever before are going to
university, so it is a route that is accessible and it is accessible for
everybody,” she said.

LETBY PROBE LATEST: In the same interview, Keegan said a full statutory inquiry
into NHS handling of early concerns about baby killer Lucy Letby was “on the
table.” That’s a change from 24 hours ago when ministers were pushing for a
non-statutory probe, which would be quicker but not have legal powers to compel
witnesses to attend.

Pushing for it: Stephen Brearey, the lead consultant on the neonatal unit where
Letby worked who first raised concerns about the nurse in October 2015, is
calling for the probe to be given a legal footing. Knocking Keegan off the Radio
4’s Today programme 8.10 a.m. slot, he said given the “magnitude of the events
that occurred” and the impact, a statutory inquiry was “clearly what the parents
deserve.” The BBC has a writeup.

QUIET QUITTING LATEST: In the same LBC phone-in, Starmer urged Rishi Sunak to
“force the issue” and get MIA Conservative MP Nadine Dorries to resign, after
ConservativeHome Deputy Editor Henry Hill argued the Commons has the power to
expel her. Hill even noted that Starmer has the right to table a motion to expel
the former minister.

OOPS: The Telegraph was forced to correct an article from former Conservative
Leader Iain Duncan Smith that contained a claim about home schooling he didn’t
have the evidence for. Guido has a writeup.

LATEST SMALL BOATS NUMBERS: A total of 661 people were detected crossing the
English Channel yesterday, Home Office figures showed this morning. It’s the
third highest daily total since 2023.

REGULATOR NEWS: Microsoft has been forced to restructure its takeover of
Activision and renotify the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority
after the watchdog confirmed its earlier decision to block its $69 billion
takeover of the video-gaming giant. My POLITICO colleagues have a writeup here.
And here’s their take on how the CMA is acting the hard man in the regulator
world.

MORE REGULATOR NEWS: Staff in the Civil Aviation Authority have voted for
industrial action over pay, with dates still to be confirmed.

THE ID, THE EHRC AND THE EC: The Equality and Human Rights Commission confirmed
it has written to the Electoral Commission about concerns around minorities
being able to vote under new ID rules.

**Listen in on conversations with global power players with Power Play, a
brand-new global podcast by POLITICO. Renowned host Anne McElvoy takes you into
the minds of those shifting power, policy and politics across the globe,
starting this September. Sign up here to be notified of the first episodes.** 


SOCIAL AFFAIRS

HAVE FUN: There are a whole host of South Asian Rishi Sunak memes … and this
Twitter user has been posting some of them this afternoon.

STILL TRYING: The Threads app announced it’s rolling out its long-awaited
desktop version in coming days.


AROUND THE WORLD

TIMMY RUNNING: The EU’s climate czar Frans Timmermans is quitting the European
Commission in a favor of a tilt at the top job in Dutch politics. A Commission
official told Playbook’s POLITICO colleagues Timmermans is set to quit after a
left-wing alliance formally chose him as its lead candidate for the upcoming
Dutch parliamentary election in the fall, triggered by the resignation of
current PM Mark Rutte. 

GREEK FOREST FIRES: The bodies of 18 people have been found in a Greek forest
following the latest deadly wildfires. POLITICO’s Laura Hülsemann has more. 

PAKISTAN CHAIRLIFT: At least two children have been rescued so far from a
stranded cable car in Pakistan which had been left hanging above a ravine since
the early hours of this morning. The rescue was carried out by army commandos in
a chopper — the Guardian has footage here. 

**A message from Masdar: Masdar is the UAE’s clean energy champion and one of
the largest companies of its kind in the world, advancing the development and
deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global
sustainability challenges. The company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio
capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 to power millions of homes with
around the world with clean energy. By the same year, Masdar will have an annual
green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes. Learn more have we
are pioneering energy.**


TONIGHT’S MEDIA ROUND

LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.) leads on the Lucy Letby case
…No word yet on the BBC News at Six … Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) leads on
Scotland’s latest drug death figures.

Tom Swarbrick at Drive (LBC, until 6 p.m.): Adam Smith Institute Director Duncan
Simpson, Unison Head of Health Sara Gorton and Public Health Scotland’s Andrew
McAuley.

News Hour (Sky News, 5 p.m.): Scottish Tory Leader Douglas Ross.

Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, 5 p.m.): Douglas Ross and School Systems
Minister Diana Barran.

The News Agents (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Broadcaster Rachel Riley.

Farage (GB News, 7 p.m.): Pollster James Johnson, former U.S. Republican
candidate Kari Lake and academic Wasiq Wasiq.

Jeremy Kyle Live (TalkTV, 7 p.m.): Guests include Association of Convenience
Stores chief James Lowman … Tory MP Steve Tuckwell … Former Tory MP Nick de
Bois … Migration policy researcher Zoe Gardner.

REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The
Observer’s Sonia Sodha and ConHome’s Henry Hill.


TOMORROW’S WORLD

NOT SCHOOLS WEEK CONTINUES: The government will announce more support for kids
with special educational needs and disabilities.

**DSEI is the world’s premier hybrid defence and security event, and returns to
ExCeL, London from 12 – 15 September 2023. The event is crucial in bringing
governments, the armed forces and the international defence industry together.
There is still time to register as a visitor at the link here.**


ANY OTHER BUSINESS

PACKED LUNCH OR PARL LUNCH: It’s recess! Make the most of a quieter Westminster
with a stroll around to check out the menus. The recess opening hours are 7.30
a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Despatch Box … 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (3.15 p.m. on Fridays) at
the Terrace Cafeteria … 8 a.m. to 3.15 p.m. (with no hot food) at the Debate …
and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jubilee Café. 

WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: Another long one, but for something different the New
Yorker’s Ronan Farrow has a massive piece on Elon Musk, the dude who owns the
microblogging site all of us in Westminster are struggling to quit no matter how
much we hate it.

ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On August 22 1642 the English Civil War began between
royalists and parliament.

THANKS TO: My editor Rosa Prince Playbook reporter Andrew McDonald and the
POLITICO production team for making it look nice.

SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook
| London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch |
EU Influence | London Influence | Digital Bridge | China Direct | Berlin
Bulletin | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | Global Insider | All our POLITICO
Pro policy morning newsletters

More from ... Emilio Casalicchio


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