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 Alba Party and the Left in Scotland

The following article by Allan Armstrong (RCF) provides an analysis of the Alba Party and the response of the Left in Scotland. THE ALBA PARTY AND THE LEFT IN SCOTLAND Introduction The public emergence of the Alba Party on 26th March has led to considerable political confusion on the Left as to its political significance…

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…

There isn’t going to be a Border Poll

We are posting this article from Republic Media (Ireland) outlining why it is very unlikely there will be a Border Poll anytime soon. This article also breaks out of the Irish nationalist exceptionalist tradition and draws evidence from recent events in Scotland. This is followed by a comment by Allan Armstrong, RCF, RSP about the…

Freedom Come All Ye – Resisting the RIC Terminators

On 3rd February 2021, bella caledonia published an article by Allan Armstrong, Freedom Come All Ye. This included an analysis of the politics behind the attempt by the Terminators to shut down RIC nationally. Since then, a provisional ‘Yes Alba’ has also morphed into ‘Now Scotland’. Allan’s original article has been updated to take in…

After Brexit – Another Dialogue

 Below is a dialogue involving Phil Vellender of the Republican Socialist Alliance, Mike Picken (Socialist Resistance) and Allan Armstrong (RCN) and C.B, L.S, J.G., all of the Republican Socialist Platform This is a follow up E&L‘s recent dialogue, Starmer, the SNP and Brexit 1. Phil Vellender reports on the Another Europe is Possible conference held…

Starmer, The SNP and Brexit – a dialogue

The following exchange is an update of a discussions on the Republican Socialist Alliance list, in the aftermath of Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘Damascus road’ conversion to Brexit and the SNP leadership’s continued commitment to the EU. The exchange is between Allan Armstrong (RCN) Murdo Ritchie (RCN) and Miguil Martinez (RSA) 1. On 4 Jan 2021,…

The British Left and the UK State

  Below is an outline of the Contents and the concluding chapter of The British Left and the UK state, written by Allan Armstrong.  The article  addresses the need for a socialist republican ‘internationalism from below’ strategy to address the current challenges the Left faces. The full article  can be read at:- https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/the-british-left-the-uk-state-.pdf _____________ From…

From Grey To Red Granite – Viewing the Left, the Scottish Question and the Nature of the UK State through the Lens of Neil Davidson’s Writings and Political Work

Below are the Contents and Introduction to Allan Armstrong’s article, From Grey Granite to Red Granite – Viewing the Left, the Scottish Question and the Nature of the UK state through the Lens of Neil Davidson’s Writings and Political Work. The full article can be read at:- https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/from-grey-to-red-granite-1.pdf   Contents

John Manson – Socialist, Literary Critic, Translator And Poet (1933-2020)

Allan Armstrong writes about John Manson, socialist, literary critic, translator and poet who died on August 3rd. It was with considerable sadness that I learned of John Manson’s death a month after it occurred on August 3rd. John had been a “a non-party Socialist since the dissolution of the CPGB”[1] and a significant literary critic,…