Edinburgh Peoples Festival August 6th-12th 1. People’s History of Edinburgh August 6th, 6.30 pm, Outside The Last Drop Public House, Grassmarket Local historian Allan Armstrong leads us on this walk through the Edinburgh that never makes it into the official guide books. This is the people’s history of ‘Auld Reekie’ shaped by those who lived…
Why I rejected my MBE
Bob Holman talks about why he rejected his offered MBE I am an egalitarian. I believe that a socially and materially equal society is more united, content and just. The royal honours system is designed to promote differences of status. It is made clear that those who are made knights or dames are socially superior…
The ‘Independence-Lite’ Referendum And A Tale Of Two Campaigns
The SNP‘s ‘Yes, Please’ And The Left Nationalists’ ‘Yes, But…’ Tale No. 1 – the launch of the SNP’s Yes campaign Alex Salmond launched the ‘Yes’ campaign for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum at Cineworld in Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge on the morning of Friday, May 25th. Apart from the delayed start, this media orientated event, attended…
Socialist Republicanism And The Diamond Jubilee
The RCN is posting four pieces as a contribution to the debate on a socialist republican the Diamond Jubilee. Socialist Republicans and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Republicanism Socialism and Democracy The Crown Rules Britannia The Queen: Floating in the Stink 1. Socialist Republicans and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee “Maud Gonne joined with James Connolly in…
Even The Rain
Paul Laverty’s Even the Rain is a very powerful film that works on several levels. As a piece of drama, with a compelling musical soundtrack, it captures and holds your attention. You would not have to be politically engaged to enjoy this film. However, for anybody at all concerned about the present state of the world, and…
What Do The May 5th Local Election Results Mean In Scotland?
This article was first written for socialists in England and Wales. It has been published on the commune website, and issue 23 of Permanent Revolution, in slightly edited forms. The Scottish local council elections, held on May 5th, have attracted much wider interest than would normally normally be the case for such an event. The primary…
The Scottish Independence Referendum Debate, Part 3
This section of our continuing debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum addresses the British Left. The commune asked Allan Armstrong and Bob Goupillot to submit an article on the issue. This article, The Scottish Independence Referendum, appeared in the April, 2012 issue of the commune. Barry Biddulph replied to this in the June issue with…
Review: Onsind – Dissatisfacton
Album available at name your price with a minimum of £0 ONSIND are an acoustic pop punk band from Durham. Their name is in reference to the lack of abortion facilities in some areas of America. I recently attended a gig put on by the Make That a Take DIY (anti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-fascist and anti-homophobic)…
Remembering Dave Spencer
Dave Spencer was a longstanding socialist activist based in Coventry. RCN members only came into brief contact with Dave, at a meeting of the Socialist Alliance and later of the commune. Whilst very much a committed activist in his own locality, Dave also contributed a great deal to attempts to being about principled socialist unity,…
May Day greetings to ‘Emancipation & Liberation’ from ‘Frontline’
Frontline sends May Day greetings to all readers of Emancipation and Liberation. No to austerity. Organise to fight the Con-Dem coalition. Rebuild the forces of socialism in Scotland. For an independent Socialist Scotland.