First we have Bob Goupillots introduction for speakers: 2.10 Bob Goupillot. I met Allan during the Great Miners Strike but really got to know him during the Poll Tax. Since then Allan and I were in an alphabet soup of organisations including The Red Republicans, the SSP, The Republican Communist Network, the Radical Independence Campaign…
Mary McGregor memorial for Allan Armstrong
Fields of Athenry At Allan’s funeral I was privileged to say a few words about how much Allan meant to so many of us and one thing I mentioned was Allan’s love of music, poetry, song film and all aspects of culture. So much so we enshrined culture as one of the main aspects of…
Iain Robertson memorial for Allan Armstrong
I met Allan through Myra over 40 years ago when I started working at Firrhill High School where Myra was teaching. I was quickly drawn in to the politics of the teachers Rank and File group of which both Myra and Allan were active members. This began a process of political awakening for me and…
Nick Steff memorial for Allan Armstrong
The Republican Communist Network was originally set up in 1999 and Allan was one its primary architects. The aim of the RCN was to bring together 2 key aspects of Allan’s beliefs. Firstly, Internationalism from Below, which involved the RCN joining, on a principled basis, with republican communists from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. The…
Highland Sparks
HIGHLAND SPARKS The following article, Highland Sparks, was written for bella caledonia, by George Gunn, From the Province of the Cat, 21.3.24 Let me begin by stating two things which are both true and untrue. One: Scottish theatre is full of talented and energetic artists. Scottish theatre is being pulled apart by managers and bureaucrats.…
George Gunn: Meeting the gaze of of the rubble and How Keir Starmer placed his political image over the lives of those in Gaza
The following two articles were written in response to Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the situation in Gaza over the SNP motion at Westminster. The first, written by George Gunn was posted in bella caledonia. The second was written by Adam Ramsay and was first posted by openDemocracy. A) MEETING THE GAZE OF THE GHOST…
Ed Balls accidentally admits to Labour’s weaponisation of anti-Semitism I mean, we already knew, but still…
The following article was written by and posted on Ricky from Council Estate Media. ED BALLS ACCIDENTALLY ADMITS TO LABOUR’S WEAPONISATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM I MEAN, WE ALREADY KNEW, BUT STILL… Former Labour MP Ed Balls, the world’s most unbearably smug centrist, has just admitted to something we’ve been saying for years: that Sir Keir Starmer’s…
Julian Assange – As ‘Day X’ approaches, do you really want to be on the wrong side of history?
The following article was written by the Canary Editorial Board and posted on their website. JULIAN ASSANGE – AS ‘DAY X’ APPROACHES, DO YOU REALLY WANT BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY? Next week, jailed journalist Julian Assange will have an appeal hearing in London. It could be the last attempt to stop…
The Scottish Languages Bill
Wilson Macleod looks at the new Scottish Languages Bill in the changed political circumstances since the Scottish government consultation was first opened up in June 2023. This article was first posted by bella caledonia. He raises some particular points, but omits the changed political background. Whilst cultural issues have always been a lower priority for…
Sinn Féin, the IRA and the betrayal of the Palestinians
In this hard hitting article by Georoid O’Loingsigh, first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland), he exposes the hypocrisy behind the Sinn Fein leadership, over its stance on Palestine and its kowtowing to Biden’s US imperialism. SINN FEIN, THE IRA AND THE PALESTINIANS Following a peace process in which the armed group, which is not the…