Building for a New Scotland

Since the SNP landslide victory at the May 2011 Scottish elections it has attracted comment from all factions of the left whether for or against independence.

The problem of the anti-independence left is they bore the mass of the Scottish people with Marxist theology or analysis about how the pro-independence left will divide the so-called British working class after independence. Alan McCombes of the Scottish Socialist Party answers the question nicely by example of how the Irish Trade Unions collaborate on both sides of the Irish border. See Below:

Irish trade unions continue to organise on both sides of the border. There are many US-based trade unions organised in Canada. There is also close collaboration within the trade-union movement across Scandinavia. In today’s world of global corporations, trade union organisation will tend to transcend international borders, though that may well be accompanied by greater decentralisation within trade unions." Alan McCombes Why the left should back independence

Also the article by McCombes points out the achievement of the previous SNP minority lead Government on no tuition fees for students and that prescription charges being abolished on April 1, 2011, just before the election. Also the SNP record of campaigning against the situating of Britain’s Trident nuclear submarine in Scotland.

And McCombes argues that the break-up of the United Kingdom would weaken capitalism and imperialism internationally. In Scotland, support for the union has always gone hand in hand with support for imperialism.

This leaves me to conclude that the reality for the Scottish left come the Independence Referendum is that like socialists and republicans in the SNP we shall all experience unfortunately the effort and propaganda machine that the unionists and British state will employ to destabilise the Yes for independence campaign.

Instead of trying to baffle the Scottish people with long articles to read on International or global socialism we will need to continue to present the immediate benefits of breaking up the British state.

Where I do agree with the pro-independence left as a Republican Socialist is an independent Scottish state, we must have control of policing or security and power over our own defence (No Trident weapons on Scottish soil), and social welfare, also being no way a part of the NATO adventures or no to England's imperialist war games and British occupation of Ireland being certainly essentially unacceptable. Also we should break with the British Crown and build a New Scotland based on egalitarianism, socialism and a true Republic where we fly the Saltire while not being in the shadow of the butcher's apron (union flag) or crown powers rubber stamped by the Queen of England.

Independence will also relieve the Scottish people from the unfair democratic deficit of London Rule at Westminster, and create a more natural political process that reflects the wishes of all the Scottish people whether they follow the road of social democracy, socialism and republicanism alike.

What we must all be ready to struggle against, is the power of the capitalist Murdoch influenced media willing to discredit independence as an option for the Scottish people. Already the Scottish press are stirring the pot and promoting so-called "Independence Lite."

As a Scottish Republican Socialist I am aware of the need to adopt a radical agenda at least and at most the move eventually and speedily to a Workers Republic.

But in the meantime it is important to prepare for the Independence Referendum within 5 years and the need to support the Scottish Independence Convention whether you are Scottish Radical, Libertarian, Nationalist, Left Nationalist, Socialist or Republican Socialist or simply Scottish Republican.

I through this weblog Scottish Republic in my writings support the revolutionary socialist approach to campaign in the months and years ahead with vigour for true freedom by breaking the connection with England and it's queen.

We must build socialism in Scotland from below before we can dream of International Global Socialism in the longer term which is not going to happen that soon.

Meanwhile one step at a time while the SNP Government have wonderfully and thankfully secured a mandate from the ordinary voting public since the Scottish elections.
Larry
Independent Republican Socialist