by John McAnulty (Socialist Democracy, Belfast) The Irish election of 24th May astounded all the political observers commenting on it. The election was called unexpectedly at a rushed early morning press conference in a transparent attempt to head off a judicial enquiry into suspect financial dealings by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. The enquiry was immediately…
Past Mustn’t Stand In Way of Future
Below, we reprint the editorial from the Belfast Newsletter, 27 March 2007. As a DUP-supporting newspaper, it gives a clear indication of why Paisley went into coalition with Sinn Fein. No matter what happened yesterday, Peter Hain had planned to be the winner. If the Assembly had met and a First and Deputy First Minister…
Consensus Politics or an Unprincipled Lash-Up?
Following the Welsh Assembly elections, Bob Davies (CPGB, South Wales) details the compromises in the pursuit of power Cross party, consensus politics currently appears in vogue at the moment. As I write, and perhaps encouraged by recent developments in Welsh politics, Gordon Brown has announced that Patrick Mercer and John Bercow, both Tory MPs, will…
The SNP’s ‘National Conversation’ Prepares the Ground for Reform of the Union
Allan Armstrong assesses the impact of the SNP plans for Scotland in the context of British ruling class thinking about reform of the UK New Unionism and the reform of the UK constitution On May 3rd New Labour lost its control of both the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Scotland now has a minority SNP/Green…
Setback or Disaster: Can the SSP Survive?
Following the setback of May’s Scottish Parliament election results, June’s issue of Frontline magazine carries two contrasting articles on What next for Scottish socialism? – one from SSP National Secretary, Pam Currie, the other from Gregor Gall. Mary McGregor responds. We all knew the Scottish parliamentary results in May would be bad for the SSP.…
Emancipation & Liberation Index 14
Emancipation & Liberation, Issue 14, Spring 2007 Offering a Socialist vision, RCN Peak Oil, Oil Depletion, & Alternative Energies, Rod MacGregor One year on, Jim Aitken Against Imperialist war, for Iran’s workers, Yassamine Mather No War On Iran!, Hands Off People of Iran Naming women’s oppression, Catriona Grant The Sinn Fein Ard Fheis and the…
The Republic of the Imagination
The Republic of the Imagination In August 2006, Allan Armstrong interviewed the literary critic and poet John Manson about his life and works Could you please give us some background information about your life? I was born on a croft on the coast of the Pentland Firth in 1932. My mother was widowed in 1941.…
Parecon: Participatory Economics and Socialism for the 21st Century
by Neil Bennet What do you want? It’s a question that we, as revolutionary socialists (or communists) face more often than any other when talking about our politics. We are more than happy to tell people what we are against – war, exploitation, suffering, injustice…but more often than not, when it comes to telling people…
To See Oursels as Ithers See Us!
Crisis In The SSP This article on recent events in the SSP is from the Irish Socialist Network. Irish Socialist Network Website The Tommy Sheridan affair probably hasn’t run its course yet: there’s bound to be a few twists and turns left before we can close the book on the whole saga. But it’s possible…
Bought and Sold
Smart big awards and prize money Is killing off black poetry It’s not censors or dictators that are cutting up our art. The lure of meeting royalty And touching high society Is damping creativity and eating at our heart. The ancestors would turn in graves Those poor black folk that once were slaves would wonder…