What does the union flag tell us about the UK?

Allan Armstrong has rewritten the introduction to the first part of his book, From Pre-Brit to Ex-Brit. In this he takes a closer look at the history of the UK’s Union Flag. WHAT DOES THE UNION FLAG TELL US ABOUT THE UK? Today, even the United Kingdom’s most diehard defenders realise their state may not…

The SWP and Scottish independence – Part 2, To party or not to party?

This posting  covers the Introduction and Contents of the second part of Allan Armstrong’s review of the book, Breaking up the British state, Scotland, Independence and Socialism, edited by Bob Fotheringham, Dave Sherry & Colm Bryce of the SWP. The full article can be seen at:- https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/breaking-up-the-british-state-part-2.pdf Contents This posting  covers the Introduction and Contents of the second…

The SWP and Scottish independence – part 1, Breakin’ up is so hard to do

The following  post includes the Contents and the Introduction of the first part of the review by Allan Armstrong of Breaking up the British state – Scotland, Independence & Socialism, editors, Bob Fotheringham, Dave Sherry and Colm Bryce. The full review of Part 1 can be read at: https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/breaking-up-the-british-state.pdf   THE SWP AND SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE Part…

Twelfth festival of hate – the state moves to support loyalism

The following article was in the annual 12th July bonfires in Belfast was first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland)   TWELFTH FESTIVAL OF HATE – THE STATE MOVES TO SUPPORT LOYALISM     Events have moved on from this year’s Twelfth parades, with general relief at the absence of widespread violence. However a sense of…

It hasn’t gone away you know – the Irish housing crisis erupts yet again

This article first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland) examines the public  re-emergence of the housing crisis in Ireland and looks to its causes and possible solutions. The housing crisis in Ireland has exploded yet again. As in a slow motion car crash, everyone foresees the eventual destruction of the coalition government but not a way…

May 6th election results and beyond

This article by Allan Armstrong (RCF) looks at the aftermath of the May 6th elections in Scotland, Wales and England, the current situation in Northern Ireland, and then to the political significance of new movements from below across these islands, culminating in the people of Govanhill challenging the UK state’s Home Office Border Agency’s attempted…

The power grab of the queen’s speech

This article by Mike Small was first posted on bella caledonia. It outlines the Tory government’s plans to bring the politics of Brexit Britain closer to the authoritarian Right in Eastern Europe, coupled to their attempts to bury its own murderous past in Ireland. At the State Opening of Parliament today the full-farce of Britain’s…

Edinburgh May Day Kill the Bill Demo

This article. written by Maria Elena Carpintero Torres-Quevedo, was first posted on bella caledonia. It provides an account to the Edinburgh solidarity demo, held on May 1st, to protest against the Tory government’s proposed new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. This International Workers Day, protestors in Edinburgh took part in one of many protests across…

After the funeral – Loyalists stage a show, but the real drama is offstage

This is a follow up article from Socialist Democracy (Ireland) outlining further developments in Northern Ireland in the Unionist camp As promised, loyalist groups in the north of Ireland returned to the streets following the funeral of the British consort, Prince Philip. The demonstrations confirmed the earlier analysis presented by Socialist Democracy, that there was…

Alex Salmond, the Holyrood enquiry and the Scottish Left – a republican response

Allan Armstrong has written this article in response to the Holyrood enquiry. It examines the underlying role of the Crown  and why this should be of concern to any genuine democrat. Alex Salmond’s statement and evidence to the Holyrood enquiry on February 26th has led to much fevered comment from a salivating London-based unionist media (including…