Like many others who have been members of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) for a number of years, I did not want to read Downfall: The Tommy Sheridan Story by Alan McCombes. As a founder member of the Scottish Socialist Alliance (SSA) and then the SSP, I had been filled with hope (but with no…
A Political Report on the ‘Reclaiming Our Trade Unions’ conference in Dublin.
Reclaiming the unions – Bluster about bureaucracy, but no alternative programme – Socialist Democracy (Ireland) The “Reclaiming our Trade Unions” conference in Dublin on 1st October (better seen as a convention because of the limited political discussion) had its theme set by Kieran Allen, the President of SIPTU’s education branch. Kieran denounced the corruption of…
A Republican Re-alignment
A REPUBLICAN RE-ALIGNMENT John McAnulty (Socialist Democracy – Ireland) Shortly before Elizabeth Windsor’s visit to Dublin, the death of police officer Ronan Kerr led to a moral panic across Ireland, with demonstrations in support of the status quo and with the great and the good claiming all Irish society was under threat. In the Assembly elections which followed a…
New issue of the commune (no. 26)
the euro in crisis editorial – opposition and the cuts balls to miliband – Clifford Biddulph pickets and porkie pies at fujitsu – Mark Harrison cleaning up the industry – Siobhan Breatnach sparks fly in electricians’ dispute – Siobhan Breatnach a weekend camping at dale farm – Daniel Harvey a state of uncertainty – Pete…
The State Murder of Troy Davis
At the South Carolina State Penitentiary on the 16th, June, 1944, 14 year old, George Junius Stinney, was strapped to the electric chair. Securing him to the frame holding the electrodes proved difficult as the child was so slightly built and merely 5’1”, a reason to suspect it wasn’t he who had wielded the huge…