Friends and Comrades It is our pleasure to announce the formation of a new political alliance – made up of comrades based in Scotland initially, but hopefully to expand to include comrades based in Ireland, Wales and England – that can bring together those forces throughout the UK who believe that only through the dismantling…
The SSP, ‘Independence First’ And The Scottish Independence Referendum
A Scottish internationalist and republican approach – Republican Communist Network, Platform in the SSP 1. Introduction After February 15th, 2003 – the ruling class counter-offensive Many socialists, participating in the massive global anti-war protests on February 15th 2003, held high hopes after decades of retreat by the working class and oppressed peoples across the world.…
Making The North East Atlantic Safe For Global Capitalism – a talk given by Allan Armstrong at the G8 Alternatives Summit
A talk given by Allan Armstrong (Republican Communist Network Platform in the Scottish Socialist Party) at the G8 Alternatives Summit on July 3rd 2005 in Edinburgh Earlier today, Eamon McCann, leading SWP member in Ireland, introduced a session entitled, Making Northern Ireland Safe for Neo-liberalism. It is revealing that such a prominent SWP member should…
Whatever Happened To ‘The Independence Election’?
The ‘National Conversation’ prepares the way for further reform of the UK What do the results of the recent elections to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies, and the Irish Dail, mean for the future of the UK? What is the political significance of Salmond’s ‘National Conversation’? This is a contribution by…
Lyrical Delicacy and Political Toughness
Allan Armstrong interviews socialist activist and poet, Jim Aitken, about his life, politics and works. Could you please give us some background information about your life? I was born and raised in Edinburgh. My mother was from Wick, one of a family of six. She left Wick to work in service in London. She never…
Internationalist Spirit
Allan Armstrong reviews two albums, which address the world of migrant workers – dispossession and discrimination, longing and hope, oppression and resistance. The Road of Tears Battlefield Band, £9.50 Battlefield Band released their 26th album, The Road of Tears, last year. The theme is emigration and immigration. The album makes the link between the experience…
The SNP’s ‘National Conversation’ Prepares the Ground for Reform of the Union
Allan Armstrong assesses the impact of the SNP plans for Scotland in the context of British ruling class thinking about reform of the UK New Unionism and the reform of the UK constitution On May 3rd New Labour lost its control of both the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Scotland now has a minority SNP/Green…
The Republic of the Imagination
The Republic of the Imagination In August 2006, Allan Armstrong interviewed the literary critic and poet John Manson about his life and works Could you please give us some background information about your life? I was born on a croft on the coast of the Pentland Firth in 1932. My mother was widowed in 1941.…
A critique and exposure of Tommy Sheridan’s ‘Daily Record’ and the ‘SSP has reached the crossroad ‘manifestoes’’
Allan Armstrong (Republican Communist Network) examines the politics behind the ‘SSP Majority’s’ letter and Sheridan’s contributions to the Daily Record i) Tommy’s battle against the News of the World Tommy Sheridan has won a famous victory over the News of the World. This has been proclaimed by Tommy’s immediate supporters, the SWP and CWI, and…
Which Way Now For The SSP?
Allan Armstrong sees recent setbacks for the SSP as part of the wider international Left’s retreat in the face of an imperialist, ‘liberal’ counter-offensive Why have the SSP retreated? It is three years since the massive international demonstrations, held on February 15th 2003, in protest against Bush and Blair’s’ impending war in Iraq. These were…