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 World Cup should make us rethink our understanding of human rights

The following article by Neil Vallelly first appeared in Jacobin. It the light of the controversy surrounding the World Cup being held in Qatar, it invites us to think more widely about the concept of human rights. THE WORLD CUP SHOULD MAKE US RETHINK OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN RIGHTS Media coverage of the World Cup…

Are circumstances now aligned for possible war in the Middle East?

 We are posting the following article by Paul Rogers  which was posted by openDemocracy. It examines the possibility of a new war breaking out in the Middle East, adding further to the  inter-imperial tensions over Ukraine and Taiwan.  ARE CIRCUMSTANCES NOW ALIGNED FOR POSSIBLE WAR IN  THE MIDDLE EAST? With instability in Iran, a right-wing…

Edinburgh marches against COP27

 The following article on the COP27 Coalition march, organised to coincide withe world wide protest against the COP27 leaders and corporate capitals’s continued attempts to greenwash their activities, was written by Stehen Topple and  first posted by The Canary.   EDINBURGH MARCHES AGAINST COP27 Several thousand people marched through Edinburgh on Saturday 12 November. This was…

Aneurin Bevin on the Socialist ambitions of the NHS

This article written by the Editorial Board of Tribune points out that decades on from the creation of the NHS, there is no scarcity of praise for the greatest social achievement in Britain’s history, but readers of the mainstream press today find precious little mention of its socialist roots. However, this article and interview are struck by…

The Republican wave crashes on the rocks of voter rejection

The following article, written by Ezra Brain, and first posted on Left Voice (USA) analyses the outcome of the mid-term elections and associated referenda in the USA. THE REPUBLICAN WAVE CRASHES ON THE ROCKS OF VOTER REJECTION In a contradictory result, voters have rejected the Republican hopes of a “red wave,” instead choosing to protect…

Trade unions backing down in the face of reactionary militarism is painfully British

The political weakness of many trade unions, including those led by the Left, is highlighted in this article by Joe Glenton, which first appeared in The Canary. Their acceptance of the existing UK state places a severe constraint on their actions. TRADE UNIONS  ARE BACKING DOWN IN THE FACE OF REACTIONARY MILITARISM  British trade unions…

After the killing of Mahsa Amani in Iran – women, life and liberty –

We are posting the following two articles which offer solidarity to women, minorities and others struggling for freedom in Iran, after the state murder of the young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amani. Both articles look to real solidarity on the basis of ‘internationalism from below’ and warn of the hypocritical ‘solidarity’ of western governments and an…

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…