Dave Douglass reviews Steve McGrail and Vicky Patterson’s Cowie miners, Polmaise colliery and the 1984-85 miners’ strike. COWIE MINERS, POLMAISE COLLIERY AND THE 1984-85 MINERS’ STRIKE Great Strike of 1984-85: an unequal battle Polmaise was at the epicentre of the Scottish miners’ action in 1984. Like Cortonwood it was among ‘the first of the first’…
BERNADETTE MCALISKEY, SINN FEIN AND CIVIL RIGHTS
In early February, writing a platform piece in Belfast’s Irish News, Bernadette McAliskey reacted to Sinn Fein claims that they had led the early civil rights struggle. Socialist Democracy member, John McAnulty says Bernadette was absolutely right to slap down these absurd claims by a group that was not formed until years later. However much of…
THE OUSTING OF BARRY MCELDUFF
The following is an article about the ousting of Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone, after his notorious tweet. This article first appeared in Socialist Democracy (Ireland). THE OUSTING OF BARRY McELDUFF A sustained campaign of outrage has led to the ousting of the Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone. The campaign arose from the posting…
LONDON – THE NEW HANSEATIC LEAGUE
John Tummon argues that the City of London is becoming increasingly detached from the British economy and UK state and is taking on a role more akin to medieval city-states. LONDON – THE NEW HANSEATIC LEAGUE Those who like to point to every…
Review: Struggle or Starve: Working Class Unity in Belfast’s Outdoor Relief Riots
Tommy McKearney reviews Struggle or Starve: Working Class Unity in Belfast’s Outdoor Relief Riots by Sean Mitchell. STRUGGLE OR STARVE: WORKING CLASS UNITY IN BELFAST’S OUTDOOR RELIEF RIOTS Struggle or Starve by Séan Mitchell is an important book that deserves the widest readership among those interested in promoting progressive politics in the North of Ireland. The author…
ALL HAIL THE CATALAN REPUBLIC
Below is the text of a leaflet by the Campaign for a European Republican Socialist Party. It will be distributed at the ‘Building Bridges to Independence’ event on Saturday November 4th. It was written before the Spanish government jailed the Catalan government leadership. ALL HAIL THE CATALAN REPUBLIC ‘Building bridges to independence’ must make…
AN IRISH LANGUAGE ACT IS FOR EVERYONE
One of the bones in contention between Sinn Fein and the DUP over the suspended Stormont is the Unionists’ refusal to pass a law recognising the Irish language. The Unionists have used their veto within the post-Good Friday Agreement set-up to ensure that British law does not extend to Stormont. Provision was made by Westminster…
NORTHERN IRELAND UPDATE – THE CONTINUING IMPACT OF REACTIONARY UNIONISM
Northern Ireland is one part of the UK state where the reactionary unionism which has come to dominate politics since the Brexit referendum has a much longer history. The coalescence of the reactionary unionism which underpins the Tory Party and that of the DUP has now taken the shape of a governmental alliance, headed by Teresa May and…
THE CATALAN REPUBLIC
In the aftermath of the Catalan referendum, Steve Freeman emphasis the republican aspect of the struggle. THE CATALAN REPUBLIC Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, took a cautious line on Catalan independence. She hoped that “dialogue will replace confrontation”. She called for a way forward that “respects the rule of law” and also…
THE CROWN CORPORATION AND THE ROYAL FAMILY LTD.
John Tummon of the Republican Socialist Alliance takes us through the distinction between the Crown Corporation and the Royal Family Limited, and shows how together, they perform a key role in maintaining the power of The City and the imperialist interests of the British ruling class. THE CROWN CORPORATION AND THE ROYAL FAMILY…