THE ROYAL WEDDING – PROVIDING POLITICAL COVER FOR THE UK STATE’S CROWN POWERS

This is an edited version the article, written by Eddie Ford,  which first appeared in Weekly Worker. This blog has often warned how the use of the Crown Powers could stymie any attempt to set-up an independent Scotland. This article provides a warning to those who look to Jeremy  Corbyn to lead a new Labour government. Under the Crown…

20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

We are posting this article on the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement from Socialist Democracy (Ireland).    CLINTON AND BLAIR CELEBRATE SUCCESS 20th Anniversary of Good Friday Agreement   In some Roman societies of late antiquity, after a death the body would remain for a time in the family home.  It would be…

SCOTLAND’S RATIFICATION REFERENDUM

Below is a leaflet from the ad-hoc Committee of Campaign for a European Republican Socialist Party being distributed at the Radical Independence Campaign’s Spring Conference in Edinburgh on March 10th. Location of Dalmeny Declaration – Out of the Blue Centre, Dalmeny Street, Leith   SCOTLAND’S RATIFICATION REFERENDUM The Scottish Ratification Referendum Act 2018 empowers the…

RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN SPRING CONFERENCE

RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN   National Spring Conference City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, 25 Nicolson Square Edinburgh, EH8 9BX  Saturday, March 10th Doors are open at 11.00am and the event starts promptly at 11.30pm.   Session 1: 11.30 – 12.30 The effect of Brexit on Scottish independence – Maggie Chapman (Scottish Greens) and Neil Davidson (RS21)  Lunch:…

THE END OF THE ROAD – THE COLLAPSE OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND EXECUTIVE

  Socialist Democracy (Ireland) have posted two articles  the following  the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive. These were first posted at:-  http://socialistdemocracy.org/RecentArticles/RecentIrishSettlementFoundersOnTheRockOfLanguageRights.html http://socialistdemocracy.org/RecentArticles/RecentClassPoliticsVersusModernity.html   1. THE END OF THE ROAD  THE IRISH SETTLEMENT FOUNDERS ON THE ROCK OF LANGUAGE RIGHTS When Sinn Fein collapsed the Stormont executive in early 2017 they put forward a very simple…

THE RED AND THE GREEN: A PORTRAIT OF JOHN MACLEAN

Gerry Cairns has published a new book,  The Red and the Green: A Portrait of John Maclean. This makes use of new material relating to Maclean’s relationship with the struggle in Ireland. Stevie Coyle posted the following review on Facebook, and there is an edited version in February’s  Irish Voice. Hopefully this informative review will be…

COWIE MINERS, POLMAISE COLLIERY AND THE 1984-85 MINERS’ STRIKE

Dave Douglass reviews Steve McGrail and Vicky Patterson’s Cowie miners, Polmaise colliery and the 1984-85 miners’ strike.    COWIE MINERS, POLMAISE COLLIERY AND THE 1984-85 MINERS’ STRIKE Great Strike of 1984-85: an unequal battle Polmaise was at the epicentre of the Scottish miners’ action in 1984. Like Cortonwood it was among ‘the first of the first’…

BERNADETTE MCALISKEY, SINN FEIN AND CIVIL RIGHTS

In early February, writing a platform piece in Belfast’s Irish News, Bernadette McAliskey reacted to Sinn Fein claims that they had led the early civil rights struggle. Socialist Democracy member, John McAnulty says Bernadette was absolutely right to slap down these absurd claims by a group that was not formed until years later. However much of…

THE OUSTING OF BARRY MCELDUFF

The following is an article about the ousting of Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone, after his notorious tweet. This article first appeared in Socialist Democracy (Ireland).     THE OUSTING OF BARRY McELDUFF A sustained campaign of outrage has led to the ousting of the Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone. The campaign arose from the posting…

LONDON – THE NEW HANSEATIC LEAGUE

John Tummon argues that the City of London is becoming increasingly detached from the British economy and UK state and is taking on a role more akin to medieval city-states.   LONDON – THE NEW HANSEATIC LEAGUE                       Those who like to point to every…