JOHN MACLEAN [1878 - 1923] FOR AN INDEPENDENT SOCIALIST SCOTLAND
By Colin Fox
The SNP Government launches its Bill for a referendum on Independence on Monday [30th November]. As well as being St Andrews Day it’s also the anniversary of the death of one of Scotland’s greatest advocates for Independence. The Red Clydeside leader John Maclean died on Nov 30th 1923. Maclean called for a Scottish Workers Republic.
The Scottish Socialist Party shares just such a vision and marks Maclean’s anniversary every year by re-enacting his famous speech from the dock of the High Court in Edinburgh in 1916. Facing charges of sedition for his opposition to WW1 Maclean famously turned the tables on his prosecutors declaring
‘I stand here not as the accused, but as the accuser of capitalism dripping from head to toe in the blood of working people…..’
The fully costumed SSP re-enactment takes place outside the High Court in Edinburgh at 6pm on Monday. The event is always bags of fun; John Maclean speaks, leaflets passers by and hoists the red flag over Scotland.
By Colin Fox, SSP National Spokesman, Edinburgh.
‘The fully costumed SSP re-enactment takes place outside the High Court in Edinburgh at 6pm on Monday. The event is always bags of fun; John Maclean speaks, leaflets passers by and hoists the red flag over Scotland’.
Typical of the utterly puerile gesture politics that did so much damage to the SSP. Singing a ‘a man’s a man for a’ that’ in the Scottish Parliament made you look like a clown with people who were sympathetic to the SSP. Have you learned nothing? Bags of fun eh? Does this include testifying in the same High Court against Tommy Sheridan and for capitalist state?
Comment by Insider — 27 November, 2009 @ 10:41 am
Typical of the utterly puerile gesture politics that did so much damage to the SSP. Singing a ‘a man’s a man for a’ that’ in the Scottish Parliament made you look like a clown with people who were sympathetic to the SSP.
- Being forced to take an oath to an unelected, rich medieval personage who is the head of the British state, British Army and the Church of England (and Defender of the Faith elesehwere) somehow adds gravitas to a modern democracy, I suppose.
Oh yes, I forgot to add, its also an intolerant sectarian institution -
No 10 denies firm plan to change royal succession laws
BBC
25 Nov 2009
all the best to Scottish socialists of all hews
Comment by joe90 kane — 27 November, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
Yes the Scottish Socialists and Mr Fox in particular will need to get used to the High Court as he prepares himself to do the unthinkable.
Comment by Owen — 27 November, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Dressed as Robin Hood, in a baggy suit, doing stand up in Sauchiehall Street sort of thing again I suppose?
Yawn.
Comment by The boy who sees everything — 27 November, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
The Devon Socialist Party blog beat the SSP to a John Maclean anniversary by 6 months, reproducing key elements of his famous speech from the dock on the 90th anniversary of that speech. He may have died on the day Scottish nationalists celebrate in the name of some old saint but I don’t think he would have welcomed the association - you see, Mr Fox, he was a revolutionary internationalist.
Comment by Doug — 27 November, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
#5
Maclean was a little bit interested in Scottish independence and nationhood though.
don’t you think
Comment by Andy Newman — 27 November, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
The emphasis is in the phrase ‘workers republic’, not class collaborationist terms like ‘independence’ or ‘nation’.
Comment by Doug — 27 November, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
well it was a Scottish workers republic he was after, which suggests that it would have been independent from the UK, and a nation state.
Comment by Andy Newman — 27 November, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
#7 Neither “independence” nor “nation” are class collaborationist terms in and of themselves, it depends on the context. Were Marx and Engels “class collaborationists” to insist on independance for Poland as a nation, or a united Germany, the separation of Ireland and Britain etc etc?
I don’t believe in holding up anyone’s views as unchallangeable dogma, and would be interested to know if you think Marx and Engels were wrong.
Comment by Armchair — 27 November, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
#4 Could be worse - e.g. dressed up as a teapot on prime time TV for a six figure sum. Or a pussy cat.
Comment by Ruaidh — 27 November, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
I can’t wait. Monday at six o’clock you say.
I’ll look out a T-shirt right now.
Hope It,s as exciting as the time you had a blow up submarine at the bottom of the High Street. That was a point well made, a real vote winner for me!
Comment by Brian Cant — 27 November, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Does anyone know if the SWP now support the “campaign” for Scottish independence
and thus call for a yes vote- (if and when a referendum happens).
sandy
Building a Movement for Yes
Saturday 28 November 2009
From Solidarity- Scotland’s socialist movement
Out of the Blue, Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street Edinburgh
Organised by Bella Caledonia: http://bellacaledonia.wordpress.com/
As the plans for a referendum on Scottish independence are announced a gathering looking at why we need a Yes vote and what are the positive visions for an independent Scotland?
Media, Communication and the Union
11.00 am - 12.30
• Pat Kane on The Democratic Interact: the challenges of social media to Scottish Self-Determination
• Joe Middleton on Why Scottish Independence Matters• Shona McAlpine on We Can’t Win It Without Them - Enthusing the Under 30sPeace & Alternative Futures1.00 - 3.00 pm
• Janet Fenton on How Scottish Women Might Disarm the UK Government
• Justin Kenrick on Self-Determination as an Assertion of Interdependence: restoringresilience to communities, societies and ecosystems
Economics and Outlook with Scottish Left Review & Our Kingdom
3.30 - 5.30 pm
• Gerry Hassan on The End of Britain
• Robin McAlpine on Imagined Futures
Drinks Reception at Joseph Pearce’s Bar, Leith Walk
7.00 - 9.00 pm
Contact: bellasletters@yahoo.co.ukThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for more details
Comment by sandy — 27 November, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
@5. I enjoyed that Doug reminds me of being told how James Connolly had ‘gone wrong’.
Comment by Christy — 27 November, 2009 @ 7:19 pm
Och aye the noo.
Mel Gibson, moonshine, tartan haggis, William Mcwallace, FREEDOM!!!, Its no the English a hate, just the meeja, were ah Jock Tamsons bairns, neeps tatties, shortie an scotts porridge fuckin oats ah tell ye.
Jackie Bird, Run Rig, first fittin, hogmany, Kenneth Mackellar fiddles and accordians.
Rabbie Burns, toorist shops, ginger wigs, Corries, Archie Gemmill, Ally’s tartan army, Callender, Glenfidich, Robert The Bruce, Shit for Brains and i’ts everybody elses Fuckin Fault.
Comment by Brian Cant — 27 November, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
I’ve just been on The SSP website and I see no comment or analysis of the Glasgow NE result.
Strange that considering they have devoted a whole blog to the build up to the election.
I wonder why?
Comment by Anonymous — 27 November, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
#12 Spot on - having a chin wag about an independent Scotland when there’s the STUC annual anti-racist anti-fascist demo in Glasgow at the same time. Mind you Glasgow will be pretty uneventful its not as if there has been much happening re the fight against fascist has there?
STUC St Andrew’s Day
Anti Racism March and Rally
Saturday 28 November 2009
March Assembles 10.30 am St Andrew’s in the Square (off Saltmarket), Glasgow
March off 11.00 am
Rally 12 noon Glasgow Film Theatre, Rose Street, Glasgow
Speakers include:
Vaughan Gething (President, Wales TUC)
Halema Mogul (Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance)
Cathy Pound (Hope not Hate Scotland)
Georgina Wardrop (STUC Youth Committee)
Chair: Sofi Taylor, Unison, past Chair STUC Black Workers’ Committee
Strathclyde Student Association & Love Music Hate Racism
An exciting mix of local talent and rising stars are set to perform in Strathclyde to show Scotland’s solidarity in opposing racism.
The NASUWT has teamed up with Strathclyde Student Association, Love Music Hate Racism and the Scottish TUC to stage the gig that will raise awareness of Love Music Hate Racism and the STUC St Andrew’s Day Anti Racism march.
The concert will take place on Friday 27 November at Strathclyde Student Association’s Vertigo venue and features ID Parade, Northern Exposure and The Jaks as well as a special guest appearance in Scotland from rising star Bashy. Tickets are priced £3-£5 and available from www.strathstudents.com.
Students and non students are all welcome to what promises to be a memorable night for those wanting to send a clear message that racism will not be tolerated in Scotland as well as the best night out anywhere for a fiver.
Comment by Anonymous — 27 November, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Hmm! I wonder what the reaction would be if a comment like #14 were directed at another ethnic group?
Comment by Scot in London — 27 November, 2009 @ 8:19 pm
I was also on Colin Fox’s web blog and he has not made a single comment about the Glasgow bi-election which is surprising because he is after all the co-covnenor, co leader or whatever he calls himself nowadays.
Too be honest, I used to have a degree of sympahty with Fox, and as an ex member I know for a fact that he is stuck in a party with many people he used to hold in poor regard, some of whom are regulars on this site and do the SSP more harm than good.
Hopefully once the Sheridan trial is over the sensible elements in Scotland can begin a dialogue.
In regards to number 17 perhaps Brian Cant is Scotophobic?
Comment by Owen — 27 November, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
17, I quite agree. I can only assume Brian is an English Cant. But perhaps he will prove me wrong with a Fife connection?
Comment by Christy — 27 November, 2009 @ 8:59 pm
#18 “Too be honest, I used to have a degree of sympahty with Fox, and as an ex member I know for a fact that he is stuck in a party with many people he used to hold in poor regard”
And as another ex member I know for a fact that the Leader of Solidarity is stuck in a party with people he used to utterly despise - the CWI and the SWP.
Comment by Ruaidh — 27 November, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
#20: Yes I imagine thats also true. I never joined Solidarity mainly because of these two platforms. Although I think the group calling themselves Democratic Green Socialist should be congratulated for calling on left unity and attemting to engage in a genuine discussion.
Comment by Owen — 27 November, 2009 @ 9:09 pm
There ain’t nae independence in the EU. Simples. Those going along with the SNP sham referendum proposal are either very naive or anti-working class.
Comment by Jim — 27 November, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
#17 and #19
I quite agree with you lads.
At some point, these unimaginative, corporately pre-programmed bigots are going to have to realise these cliches they spout about Scotland, and Scottish people, are as much inventions as the inventions they claim Scots believe in.
It reveals more about their own gullibility and pavlovian training than anything about how Scots have viewed themselves and the world around them.
Comment by joe90 kane — 28 November, 2009 @ 8:26 am
There is nothing progressive in the call for an independent Scotland. It says all you need to know about the SSP and Solidarity- Scotlands socialist movement- that both champion the call for the Scottish establishment to have its “own” independent capitalist state. If the working class in Britain is to succeed in resisting the attacks of british capital on its living standards it needs unity of workers through out britain and a united socialist party. Nationalism, of either the British or the Scottish variety, divides workers and thus aids Capital. Scotland is not an oppressed nation and the independence project offers workers in scotland nothing worthwhile. just the same old capitalist shit
sandy
Comment by sandy — 28 November, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Christy
I was referring to Scotland, which is what this thread is about, not Ireland. There is a fairly crucial difference - Scotland isn’t an oppressed nation and wasn’t when Maclean was alive.
Comment by Doug — 28 November, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
So Doug, is your view that terms such as “nation” and “indpendence” are only class-collaborationist in the context of nations that are not oppressed?
Comment by Armchair — 28 November, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
The Tartan Lads, Take The High Road, Billy Connoly, Sir Sean Connery, Scottish National Party, Nationalists, Rangers, Celtic………….
Comment by Brian Cant — 28 November, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
So I presume Sandy that you will be supporting New Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories in opposing an independence referendum?
Comment by Owen — 28 November, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
Brian Cant, I really resent you putting Billy Connolly in that list!
Comment by Owen — 28 November, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
Sorry Owen.
Comment by Brian Cant — 28 November, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
28
At present only about 28% of Scots support independence. There is no real demand for a referendum. If it happened it would be lost by the pro independence forces. The neo liberal project of Scotland being used as base for low business tax finance capital has been blown out of the water by the crisis. the arc of prosperity is no more. Anyway in general i am not kean on referenda. The establishment set the question and control the debate. Rather than fighting for a scottish government as an answer to the crisis we should be fighting for a workers government. The working class in britain can only move forward together. scottish seperation is a reactionary dream which aims to fool and weaken the working class
sandy
Comment by Anonymous — 28 November, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
Salmond reveals new referendum option
Scotland on Sunday
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/politics/Salmond-reveals-new-referendum-opt\
ion.5867418.jp
Published Date: 29 November 2009
By Eddie Barnes
Alex Salmond will unveil a new option for Scotland’s future when he publishes
his historic white paper on an independence referendum tomorrow.
The new option – dubbed “devo-max” – would see Scotland remain part of the UK,
but hand the Scottish Parliament complete control over taxation and the nation’s
finances.
The First Minister will tomorrow put forward four constitutional choices:
the status quo; more devolution along the lines suggested by the Calman
Commission; the devo max option; and full separation from the UK.
The strategy shift by Salmond will prompt claims the SNP has accepted the
likelihood of defeat on independence and is preparing to settle for a beefed-up
version of devolution.
Writing in Scotland on Sunday today, Salmond insists he will continue to make
the case for full independence as the best way to restore growth and build
success.
But he also acknowledges that “not everyone shares our view” that independence
is necessary. The move follows a poll last week which found 57 per cent of Scots
would vote against independence. Only 29 per cent said they would vote for
splitting up the UK.
SNP sources last night denied they were preparing to water down the party’s
commitment to independence.
continues
Comment by sandy — 29 November, 2009 @ 11:25 am
Doug. Scotland is not Ireland but nor is it England. Maclean thought a Scottish Workers Republic was a good idea. The idea that nationalism precludes internationalism seems a very anglocentic idea to me. It has also in my opinion added to the marginalisation of the English Left.
Sandy you are a Unionist adding an unwanted veneer of the old ‘most advanced working class in the world’ cliche to a desperate defence of the status quo by the British establishment. I can understand political and cultural reasons why you might feel the need to do this but it will not improve the condition of the working class in Scotland or England an iota.
Comment by Christy — 29 November, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Christy- who said that the working class in britain is the “most advanced in the world”- not me
What i do say is if the working class in Britain is divided by nationality it will be weaker. Any gains we have won in the past were won by fighting together against the British capitalist class. The SNP led independence project is anti working class to its core and will not improve the condition of the working class one iota. Stop looking to unity with scottish bosses and realize that, as in the past 200 years, workers in England Scotland and Wales will only move forward together in a joint struggle against British capitalism and its state
sandy
Comment by sandy — 30 November, 2009 @ 12:00 am
Support for referendum at new low
Times
Support for a referendum on independence has slumped to a record low, while just one in five voters now backs Alex Salmond’s proposals for Scotland to separate from the UK.
A poll by Ipsos Mori shows that only 25% of Scots still want the chance to have an early say on the country’s constitutional future, the lowest number recorded in recent times.
And backing for Scotland to go-it-alone has fallen to 20%, the second lowest figure recorded since the SNP came to power in 2007.
The findings will make disappointing reading for the first minister, who will unveil a white paper on plans for a referendum tomorrow.
It will set out proposals for legislation on a public vote on independence ahead of the next Holyrood election in 2011.
The paper will lay out four different options for Scotland’s constitutional future: the status quo; the proposals for Holyrood to have more powers put forward by the Calman commission; enhancing devolution further so Scotland would have full fiscal autonomy; and independence. Details of the precise question the SNP plans to ask in a referendum will not be revealed until next year, it emerged yesterday.
The Ipsos Mori poll, conducted between November 19 and 23, appears to reflect the view of opposition parties that ministers should focus on steering the economy out of recession before attempting to settle Scotland’s constitutional question.
It found that 46% of Scots want to remain in the UK but with Holyrood given more powers, as suggested by the Calman commission set up by the unionist parties — down one point from a comparable ICM poll in June.
One in three (32%) favour keeping devolution with the same powers at present (+10) while 20% favour independence (-8).
Support for Salmond’s plan to hold a referendum next year has been as high as 58% this year while a Sunday Times YouGov poll in March found that only 32% believed it would be appropriate during the recession.
The latest poll found that only 25% want a referendum “as soon as possible” while 50% say it should be held “in a few years’ time but it is not a priority at the moment” and 20% are completely opposed to a referendum at any time.
Comment by sandy — 30 November, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Sandy, what does it feel like to be on the same side as the Tories and New Labour? Next you’ll be drumming up support for UKIP.
The fact that an avowed and very vocal Marxist should throw up press clips from right wing mainstream newspapers suggests that your politics are very much reformist. Kautsky would be most proud. One can only wonder how the Bolsheviks would have fared if they’d based their politics on the sentiments of bourgeois newspaper editors.
Comment by John — 30 November, 2009 @ 10:24 am
John
Marxists would be fools if they ignored opinion polls or indeed ignored the bourgeois press. It is important to see which way the wind is blowing- both within the ruling class and the general population. Support for Scottish independence has fallen significantly over the past period- due, in my view, to the financial crash and a greater understanding among the masses of the anti working class nature of the SNP government.
I know this is uncomfortable for the political chancers of the SSP and Solidarity- with all their servile guff about “Scotlands fight for national freedom” etc but face facts. The wheels have come off the independence bandwagon. Your populist guff and fakery is no longer popular. Time to jump on a new bandwagon?
sandy
Comment by sandy — 30 November, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Aye Sandy your spinning away here. The wheels have hardly come off if one third want independence and nearly half want more powers for the Scottish Government. That makes three quarters still interested in a direction of travel away from the old UK. And mind you this in in the face of a concerted and protracted campaign by the British Establishment to keep a hold of Scotland.
On the referendum “45 per cent of Scots are there should be a referendum within the next two or three years “to settle the matter one way or another”. Thats the pro Union Telegraph. By your own account 75% of Scots want a referendum on the issue.
Make no mistake an independent Scotland would be a great blow to the British Establishment. Hothing would be the same for them again. No more foreign wars, the opportunity for progressive forces to emerge in England and despite your ill informed mitherings a more prosperous and democratic Scotland. What’s not to like in that?
I expect that the British Establishment will do everything short of war to keep Scotland in the Union. Your on the wrong side.
Comment by Christy — 30 November, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
It is the British establishment that is promoting devolution! pork barrel politics are preferable to a united fightback from the working class.
In general Referendums are not a great idea for the socialist left to support. look to Switzerland today.
The nationalists in Scotland still have to convince the workers in Scotland to opt for independence. The historically achieved unity between workers in Scotland and England and wales will not be easy to break but that is the aim of the left nats and the pro independence section of the Scottish establishment. Divide and rule- the old story. The idea that an independent Scotland- within the EU remember- would not participate in foreign wars is a illusion. For instance the SNP supported the invasion of Afghanistan. As for an independent Scotland being more prosperous you have no basis for that belief other than your own wishfull thinking. Certainly the Scottish establishment and in particular the political establishment may be more prosperous but not the working class. Certainly devolution has delivered for them but little or zilch for workers. And finally the idea that the growth of english nationalism is to be welcomed and encouraged is just so daft it marks out its proponents as idiots or worse
sandy
Comment by sandy — 30 November, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
#36 Why not say “Rosa Luxembourg would be proud?”
Comment by Armchair — 30 November, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
Sandy, in fact the British establishment is detirmined to stop Scottish Independence.
“The nationalists in Scotland still have to convince the workers in Scotland to opt for independence.” I think so too but its happening despite the odds.
“As for an independent Scotland being more prosperous you have no basis for that belief other than your own wishfull thinking.” Not so the oil is real (for 100 years) and the population is small.
English nationalism was always there subsumed in the British is English equation but now its dynamic. It cannot be ignored and will not go away so the direction it takes is important. Times have changed. I respect your position I just think your wrong.
Comment by Christy — 3 December, 2009 @ 11:44 pm
I have a lot of time for the SSP as the majority of members I have met are genuine but after a year or so of living in an SNP controlled Council area under an SNP executive I fear Independence for we have reached a stage in Scottish politics where the route to independence is surrender to the opportunists of the Scottish Nationalist Party. I see no difference between the British establishment and the Scottish establishment. The greed of Westminster is matched by the greed of Holyrood, the SNP like Labour court the rich and act to the benefit of the middle classes over that of the working class. Have your day out and enjoy yourselves but it does nothing to address the divisions within society. I also believe that the SSP have failed to address the major conundrum of Scottish politics, The majority of working class suporters of the SNP are from the the Unionist community, the rise of the SNP can be linked directly to the collapse of the working class Unionist vote within the Conservative party, an Independent Scotland may not be the Socialist Scotland that many hope for, and there is a bitterness within the SNP base support, a contempt for those who do not degree and little wish for open dialogue, a bit like us in the left I suppose, oh well here’s to the Pan European workers solidarity movement, well actually im the only one in it and I hold my meetings in secret, though there are signs of a split. god Im pissed off.
Comment by doom and gloom — 4 December, 2009 @ 2:23 am