New Book - 'Whose Justice? The Law and the Left'

Edited by Colin Fox MSP, Professor Gregor Gall and solicitor advocate John Scott
Published by Scottish Left Review Press, May 2006, price £6.99

"Whose Justice? The Law and the Left is not simply a critique of the current state of our law and justice. Drawing on an array of perspectives and international experiences, the contributors lay out a set of ideas and proposals to resolve and ameliorate the current deficiencies and injustices. In doing so, they cast new light on some of the rather tired and hide-bound traditional approaches of the left to law and justice. Consequently, the political parties contesting the 2007 elections would do well to consider the proposals and conclusions of Whose Justice? The Law and the Left if they genuinely want to create the best small country in the world to live in.

Whose Justice? The Law and the Left has contributions from Colin Fox MSP, solicitor-advocate John Scott, Professors Gregor Gall and Jacqueline Tombs, Tommy Sheridan MSP, Sheriff Alastair Duff, councillor Keith Baldassara, former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Clive Fairweather, justice activists John McManus and Richard Haley, lawyer Mike Dailly, STUC health and safety official Ian Tasker, and Dr Nick McKerrell".

The chapter "How Britain’s overseas adventures are reshaping justice in Scotland" (chapter 13) provides a Scottish perspective on the global "War on Terror" and traces connections between anti-terrorism legislation and the denial of justice to refugees and asylum-seekers. It also draws attention to the stake that Scottish capitalism has in the global security state and highlights the role played by Scottish institutions in creating and proselytising a counter-terrorism industry. Activities of the Centre for Studies in Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at St Andrew University are cited as particular examples of this.

How to order

Order "Whose Justice? The Law and the Left"

Chapter Contents

• C1 Introduction: A Call to Policy, and then a Call to Implementation (Professor Gregor Gall)
• C2 "I'm the only one who hasn't been to jail!" (Colin Fox MSP)
• C3 Justice in Scotland: Retrospect and Prospect (solicitor advocate John Scott)
• C4 Towards Decarceration: Reducing the Prison Population (Professor Jacqueline Tombs)
• C5 How Do We Tackle Knife Crime In Scotland? (Tommy Sheridan MSP)
• C6 Interview with Alastair Duff (subsequently a Sheriff)
• C7 Out on the Frontline (Councillor Keith Baldassara)
• C8 The Need for Reform in Scottish Prisons (Ex-HM Inspector of Prisons Clive Fairweather)
• C9 Justice for All (John McManus MOJO Scotland)
• C10 Civil Justice and Legal Aid (Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor, Govan Law Centre)
• C11 Workplace Justice - the oft forgotten arena (STUC health and safety officer Ian Tasker)
• C12 "Can't do the time?" International alternatives to jail (Dr Nick McKerrell, Glasgow Caledonian)
• C13 How Britain's overseas adventures are reshaping justice in Scotland (Richard Haley SACC)
• C14 Conclusion (Professor Gregor Gall)