On Saturday 31st August demonstrations were held throughout the UK to protest at ‘Boris’s coup’. Mary McGregor addressed the rally held in Dundee. Allan Armstrong addressed the rally held in Edinburgh. ____________ Speech by Mary McGregor Comrades and friends, We are living through extraordinary times. We live in a time where children go…
It’s the constitution stupid – After the Boris ‘coup’ let’s fUK it!
Allan Armstrong gives his response to the latest constitutional crisis hitting the UK state It’s the constitution stupid – After the Boris ‘coup’ let’s fUK it! Contents A constitutional and legal coup under Crown-in-Westminster sovereignty The UK’s growing constitutional crisis, the retreat of neo-liberalism and liberal unionism and the growth of right populism…
LOYALIST BONFIRE VICTORY IN BELFAST
Socialist Democracy (Ireland) reports on the latest UK state accommodation to Loyalism, during their annual Belfast bonfire rituals. LOYALIST BONFIRE VICTORY IN BELFAST Can this be compensated for by dreams of a future modernity? In the aftermath of the paramilitary victory at a Belfast “11th night” bonfire, correspondents were quick to spread…
Promoting Republicanism
Murdo Ritchie addresses the Left’s failing to understand republicanism. This is deeply rooted in the Left’s acceptance of the UK state for as a vehicle for its various economic and political projects. Murdo’s article is an update of his earlier piece (PROMOTING REPUBLICANISM) The advocacy of socialist republicanism has very few current precedents in the United…
BRIAN HIGGINS – A PERSONAL AND POLITICAL TRIBUTE
Communist, Republican, Trade Union Militant, Scottish Internationalist, Glasgow Bear 9th February 1941 – 2nd June 2019 __________ BRIAN HIGGINS A PERSONAL AND POLITICAL TRIBUTE Brian made a big impression upon whomever he met. Nigel Jeffrey, who encountered him on the picket line during the 1984-5 Miners’ Strike wrote, “Brian Higgins stands out…
BRITISH GOVERNMENT EXPANDS POWERS IN THE NORTH
The following article from Socialist Democracy (Ireland) highlights the impact of the reactionary unionism in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement, with its official recognition of Unionists and Nationalists in a reformed Stormont, acted as liberal mask for the continued sectarian order in Northern Ireland. This placed the UK government in the position of ‘neutral’…
WE WON’T MARCH WITH AN ORGANISATION THAT WORKS TO SUPPRESS ANTI-RACISM
We are publishing a statement from the Scottish Campaign Against Criminalising Communities, protesting against Stand Up to Racism allowing two Zionist organisations that uphold the apartheid nature of Israel to join its ‘anti-racist’ march in Glasgow on 16th March. This follows the SUTR’s acceptance of Zionists on last year’s march (see http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2018/03/17/scottish-stand-up-to-racism-bows-to-zionist-pressure/) WE WON’T…
IRISH NURSES AND THE FAILURE OF SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP
We are posting two articles from the Socialist Democracy (Ireland) blog addressing the nurses’ struggle for improved pay and a better health service in Ireland. The second goes into the underlying problems faced when unions embrace a partnerships with the state and employers in a time of economic crisis. 1.SQUARING THE CIRCLE Government and…
FROM BLATCHERISM TO MAYBYNISM
Below is a synopsis of Allan Armstrong’s new pamphlet The Continuing Shift to the Right in the Transition from Neo-Liberalism to Right Populism https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/right-populism-1.pdf This is followed by the last two chapters (relettered) which deal with the impact of Right Populism since the Brexit vote, _______ THE CONTINUING SHIFT TO THE RIGHT IN THE…
BREXIT AND WHAT IT MEANS IN IRELAND
The E&L blog has been reporting the situation in Ireland since we started up. However, during current Brexit negotiations , the ‘backstop’ has pushed the issue of Northern Ireland to the fore. We are publishing two articles which share a lot in common in their analysis of Ireland, but which offer differing perspectives on the role…