Allan Armstrong (RCN) asks why the Pitchford Enquiry into undercover policing does not extend to Scotland. Last July, Theresa May, Conservative Home Secretary, set up the Pitchford Enquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales. The Channel 4 Programme Dispatches had highlighted the role of the Met’s Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) in trying to undermine the family…
REPORT OF REPUBLICAN SOCIALIST ALLIANCE MEETING, STOCKPORT, 12th MARCH
The RCN is affiliated to the Republican Socialist Alliance. Allan Armstrong attended the meeting hosted by the new RSA (North of England) group on the 12th March in Stockport. Steve Freeman, acting RSA convenor, has written the following report. Report on Republican Socialist Alliance meeting, 12th March, Stockport This was a productive with decisions taken…
THE UK STATE AND BRITISHNESS
This article, written by Allan Armstrong (RCN) in 2015, has now been updated to include a new section 3 on Scotland. It has been moved from its earlier site. Section A – The UK State and Britishness Section B – From the Irish-British and ‘Ulster’-British ‘Insider’ to the Irish ‘Racialised’ and ‘Ethno-Religious Outsider’ to the new ‘National…
RCN BULLETIN FOR THE 4th RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN CONFERENCE
Today we are holding the 4th RIC conference. RIC has been very much a contributor to Scotland’s ‘democratic revolution’, where 97% registered and 85% voted. Despite the ‘No’ result, politics in Scotland have been transformed. However, both the British unionists and the wannabe Scottish ruling class, who have latched on to the SNP, are trying…
4th RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CONFERENCE, 20th February, Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
Take a break from party politics, reconnect with allies across the left and dig into the issues: not just understanding the problems, but discussing positive solutions & ideas for action. Routes to Independence & Roots of Change Speakers & Contributors: Jim Sillars • Robin McAlpine • Cat Boyd • Maggie Chapman • Debora Kayembe •…
THE WAR IN SYRIA
We are posting three pieces dealing with the situation in Syria. The first is the emergency motion passed overwhelmingly at the RISE National Conference in Glasgow on December 5th. The second was written by the World to Win Editorial Board just after the vote at Westminster to openly extend UK state involvement in the war…
JOHN MACLEAN COMMEMORATION DAY
On November 30th, 1923, John Maclean, the great Scottish socialist, died, after two decades of committed struggle. Eric Chester (RCN) has written the following piece, which is a contribution to today’s celebration of John Maclean’s life. JOHN MACLEAN – 1879 – 1923 Glasgow has a proud tradition of radical politics, one that is particularly…
MY IMPRISONMENT IN TURKEY – Steve Kaczynski
We have been covering the detention of Steve Kaczynski in Turkey since he was arrested on April 1st. We have been part of the campaign to get his release (republicancommunist.org/blog/2015/08/07/free-steve-kaczynski/). Steve was freed on September 18th. This article has been written by Steve and describes his experience and the current political situation in Turkey. MY IMPRISONMENT IN TURKEY I was in…
THE REFUGEE CRISIS – AN OUTCOME OF CAPITALIST BARBARISM
THE REFUGEE CRISIS – AN OUTCOME OF CAPITALIST BARBARISM In response to the current refugee storm a Palestinian activist remarked that, if pictures of dead children changed anything, Palestine would long have been free. The bitterness is understandable. However it would be wrong to write off the response to the refugee crisis as light-headed liberalism.…
CLASS AND NATION IN CONTEMPORARY SCOTLAND
CLASS AND NATION IN CONTEMPORARY SCOTLAND CONFERENCE September 17th-18th The Renfield Centre, 260, Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HZ Last September the Sociology Department at Glasgow University held a successful conference on ‘Racism: from the Labour Movement to the Far Right’. We are pleased to announce that we are holding a second conference next month, with…