The following article by Allan Armstrong looks at the significance of the struggles around the issue of language in Ireland, Wales and England and how they provide a challenge to the UK state. An edited version of this was given as a talk to the Critical Labour Studies Colloqium, held in Aonach Mhacha, Armagh on…
Gordon Brown’s new report and the Supreme Court ruling
Mike Small of bella caledonia has written this response to Gordon Brown’s report ‘A New Britain: Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy’. He argues that this report collapses under the weight of its own incoherence. Instead of viewing this as a set of solutions for Scotland, it should be seen as Labour’s attempt to create…
Elaine Murray – a remarkable woman
Elaine Murray was a remarkable woman. Being an active trade unionist and political campaigners were just two aspects of her full and rounded life. Many people – family, partners, friends, sisters, brothers and and comrades – attended her commemoration meeting. This was held on Thursday, December 1st in the Kings Manor Hotel in Edinburgh. This commemoration…
Mary Brooksbank -125th anniversary of her birth
Hi all, Please join us in Dundee next Saturday 10th December at 1pm for our annual Mary Brooksbank commemoration, this year marking the 125th anniversary of her birth. Mary Brooksbank is Dundee’s best-known communist and trade unionist. Growing up working in the jute mills like many working class women and girls of her day, she wrote…
The British monarchy: a “glorious” feudal class in 21st century trappings
The EL&SD Editorial Board only received this article sometime after Elizabrit’s death and Charlie’s royal proclamation. We have already posted several articles addressing these events. However we think this article contains valuable extra information highlighting the role of the British monarchy in defending ruling class interests and the particular form the UK state takes to…
EL&SD coverage of republicanism
The Republican Communist Network and the Republican Communist Forum have been at the centre of the campaign to build support for republicanism in Scotland. This has involved upholding republicanism as the sovereignty of the people against the UK’s sovereignty of the Crown-in-Westminster. We have criticised those who limit republicanism to anti-monarchism, which can provide cover…
70 years of failure
The following article on the political social and economic impact of the monarchy over the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s’s reign was written by Phil Vellender and Steve Freeman and the Republican Socialist Alliance and was first posted by Chartist. 70 YEARS OF FAILURE The Queen’s death has been marked by an outpouring of public…
Scottish nationalism and class politics: a long term view
The following article by James Foley was first posted on the Conter newsletter. It displays elements of a greater understanding of the nature of the UK state than was shown in Foley’s Left social democratic Britain must break, written for IndyRef1. This new thinking reflects the views expressed in Foley’s forthcoming book, Scotland after Britain, written…
Welsh independence march hits the road again in Wrexham
The following article on the All Under One Banner march held in Wrexham in Saturday 2nd July, written by Geoff Ryan and Keith Sinclair, was first posted by Anti*Capitalist Resistance. WELSH INDEPENDENCE MARCH HITS THE ROAD AGAIN IN WREXHAM After a two year gap because of Covid a march for independence for Cymru finally took…
Why has Putin invaded Ukraine?
Allan Armstrong has written a two-part article, Why has Putin has invaded Ukraine? The first part was posted on bella caledonia and the Irish Left Archive. This has now been amended following the helpful comments from Connor Beaton, Nick Steff and Sairah Tariq. Part 2 has been posted on Allan’s Intfrobel blog. The contents of…