Mike Small of bella caledonia has written this response to Gordon Brown’s report ‘A New Britain: Renewing our Democracy and Rebuilding our Economy’. He argues that this report collapses under the weight of its own incoherence. Instead of viewing this as a set of solutions for Scotland, it should be seen as Labour’s attempt to create…
Aneurin Bevin on the Socialist ambitions of the NHS
This article written by the Editorial Board of Tribune points out that decades on from the creation of the NHS, there is no scarcity of praise for the greatest social achievement in Britain’s history, but readers of the mainstream press today find precious little mention of its socialist roots. However, this article and interview are struck by…
The Republican wave crashes on the rocks of voter rejection
The following article, written by Ezra Brain, and first posted on Left Voice (USA) analyses the outcome of the mid-term elections and associated referenda in the USA. THE REPUBLICAN WAVE CRASHES ON THE ROCKS OF VOTER REJECTION In a contradictory result, voters have rejected the Republican hopes of a “red wave,” instead choosing to protect…
Review of Paul Mason’s – ‘How to Stop Fascism: History, Ideology, Resistance’
Over the Ukraine war, there have been two campist positions which have emerged on the Left – support or apologetics for Putin, and support or apologetics for NATO, tied to backing for Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership. Paul Mason is an example of the latter. Alfie Hancox’s review of Mason’s How to Stop Fascism: History,…
Mass media Omerta: burying Al Jazeera’s ‘The Labour Files’
The following article was first posted by Al Jazeera. It shows how the Labour Party bureaucracy attacked Corbyn to clear the way for a pro-British establishment leader ready to bow to the whims of the City, IMF, the British High Command and NATO. In other words they want Labour to act as the British ruling…
The general strike and classical Marxism
THE GENERAL STRIKE AND CLASSICAL MARXISM We are posting a link to this article by Jack Conrad because it makes some good general points regarding the history, nature, purpose and importantly limits of the General Strike tactic within a broad communist framework. In particular it emphasises the important distinction between ‘economic’ and consciously political struggles…
Welsh independence march hits the road again in Wrexham
The following article on the All Under One Banner march held in Wrexham in Saturday 2nd July, written by Geoff Ryan and Keith Sinclair, was first posted by Anti*Capitalist Resistance. WELSH INDEPENDENCE MARCH HITS THE ROAD AGAIN IN WREXHAM After a two year gap because of Covid a march for independence for Cymru finally took…
Historic defeat of the Right in Colombian elections
The centre-left candidate Gustavo Petro has defeated right-wing Rodolfo Hernández in Colombia’s presidential elections. The outcome of the election reflects the people’s hatred of the right, but Petro has little to offer the working classes of Colombia. This article, written by Milton D’Leon, was first posted by Left Voice (USA). HISTORIC DEFEAT FOR THE…
Sinn Fein election ‘victory’ blunted as DUP blocks Assembly formation
The following article from Socialist Democracy (Ireland) analyses the results of the recent Stormont election. SINN FEIN ELECTION ‘VICTORY’ BLUNTED AS DUP BLOCKS ASSEMBLY FORMATION The huge significance of Sinn Fein becoming the leading political party in the north after its success in last week’s Assembly election has been emphasised in commentary across the board. …
Catalangate: the surveillance state in Spain
The following article by Jordi Oriola Folch on the Spanish/Castilian state’s clampdown in Catalunya was first posted on bella caledonia CATALANGATE: THE SURVEILLANCE STATE IN SPAIN On the 18th April, The New Yorker uncovered in an extensive report [1] the biggest case of espionage in an EU country. The Canadian organisation Citizen Lab had documented [2] the spying on…