Socialists are now confronted with the unexpected rise of Jeremy Corbyn and the re-emergence of British Left social democracy. This first part of this article by Allan Armstrong will examine the significance of this and make a critical appraisal of their future prospects in the face of the current global multi-faceted political, economic, social, cultural and environmental crisis.
Contents of Part 1
1. From May 2007 to June 2017 – the SNP rules the social democratic roost in Scotland.
2. The rise of Jeremy Corbyn and British Left social democracy
3. The prospects for Corbyn and British Left social democracy when handling economic and social issues
4. The limitations of Corbyn and British Left social democracy when dealing with matters of state
A. Brexit
B. The National Question
a. Conservative, liberal and unionist attempts to maintain the unity of the UK state since the nineteenth century
b. Corbyn and the National Question in Ireland
c. Corbyn and the National Question in Scotland
d. Corbyn and the National Question in Wales
1. From May 2007 to June 2017 – the SNP rules the social democratic roost in Scotland
i. Following the demise of New Labour and its successor, ‘One Nation’ Labour, the SNP has been the most effective upholder of social democracy in the UK. In 2007, the SNP won 363 council seats; 425 in 2012, and 431 in 2017. In 2007, the SNP won 47 MSPs; 69 in 2011; and 63 in 2016, (still easily the largest party at Holyrood). In 2010, the SNP won 6 MPs; 56 out of 59 in 2015, but fell back to 35 in 2017 (still having the largest number of MPs from Scotland by some way). Continue reading “A CRITIQUE OF JEREMY CORBYN AND BRITISH LEFT SOCIAL DEMOCRACY”
