Can the SNP deliver an independence referendum alone?

The possibility of a third option for an independence referendum means that more powers on the ballot paper have to be defined. But I still prefer a straight Yes/No independence referendum. All the campaign organisations for a referendum have fallen silent and left the SNP to get on with their promises of a Referendum Bill.

The problem is the SNP are constitutional nationalists tied to the parliamentary system. With support for an independence referendum being amongst many and probably most Scots, what is required is a campaign that involves political parties, trade unionists, individuals, public figures and more. A mass demand for a referendum that goes beyond the SNP and simply asks for a Yes/No to independence. I do not have all the answers but I do remember the campaign for a Scottish Parly was big with Scotland United taking to the streets in Edinburgh. Also a vigil in place and the potential to effect public opinion. Too much has rested on the SNP alone and that to me is a mistake. Public meetings with speakers from political parties and more should be touring the country. The Independence First non-party campaign lacked imagination and it is clear a real campaign for an independence referendum requires both the input of political parties, politicians and the non-political representation.

SNP may put third option on independence referendum ballot paper

SNP 'open' to referendum options writes the BBC. With difficulty getting the Referendum Bill passed Alex Salmond has not ruled out a third option of greater powers on the ballot paper. Such will have to be clearly defined and understood to know what specific greater powers are on offer for the Scottish parliament. Of course I would of preferred a straight Yes/No independence referendum but I am aware that Salmond will probably be forced to concede. The Lib Dems are wavering on the issue but their support for a referendum could be crucial. With a general election possible by next summer a hung parliament or Tory majority is more likely to happen. Both Tory and Labour have committed themselves to cuts in public spending which will impact on Scotland. With no support for the Tories at Westminster from north of the border the SNP hope to win more seats at the general election and hold the balance of power giving them bargaining power. The SNP hope for a bloc of 20 or more MPs at Westminster. The SNP will bring forward a bill for 2010.

Tommy Sheridan to stand in Glasgow North East

Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement can today confirm that our Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan, has been selected by the Glasgow membership to stand as our candidate in the forthcoming Glasgow North East by-election.

Tommy’s record as a representative and tribune of socialist ideas is second to none having served as both a councilor and two periods as an MSP

He was elected to Glasgow City Council in 1992 to represent Pollock from his prison cell having been jailed in his opposition to the hated Poll Tax.

Tommy served as a Glasgow City Councilor between 1992 and 2003 and was elected to Holyrood in 1999 where he served the first of his two terms as an MSP.

Tommy Sheridan said today,

“It is a privilege and an honour to have been selected as Solidarity’s candidate in the Glasgow North East constituency. We will use this opportunity to put the ideas of socialism firmly back on the political agenda.”

“All of the major parties in this election will be standing on a program of offering cuts, cuts and more cuts. Cuts in the public sector, cuts in benefits and cuts in schools all to pay for the economic crisis of their making.”

“We reject the idea that it is the most vulnerable in society who should pick up the tab for the mismanagement of others. Our young people and students, our pensioners and our low paid have already suffered enough. It’s time that the bankers, the bosses and the politicians who got us into this mess paid their fair share.”

“Solidarity stands shoulder to shoulder with those in the community of Glasgow North East opposed to cuts, fighting for jobs, decent affordable housing and a proper pension. We stand with the workers threatened with redundancy at Diageo’s port Dundass plant and we stand with striking postal workers defending jobs and services.”

Scottish independence for a better society

The recent announcement from the Tories that they would cut Incapacity bill for people sick and disabled on benefits in government is not surprising. In fact when then the Tories defeat New Labour in government they will slash public services. Our only option in Scotland is independence.

Because of this we must ensure we get a referendum on independence in 2010.

The Scottish Left must support a referendum and be prepared to work with the SNP.

This weblog does recognise that independence will deliver a better Scotland but not deliver a utopia. Only a Scottish Workers Republic can guarantee the best for society.

Lower the referendum vote age

I have to say I support the SNP bid to lower referendum vote age

Giving young people the opportunity to vote on the independence referendum is a positive move.

I would support any policy initiative that gives young people a say in our and their future. The added bonus is that young people do not fear change and so their participation in the voting process for the referendum should be welcomed.

A Conspiracy to Hide the Truth about Lockerbie

From Solidarity website


Solidarity supports the United Nations Conventions in opposing cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners. We believe the Scottish Government was entirely justified in releasing a dying man, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, so that he could spend his few remaining days with his family in Libya. Not to have done so and to allow him to die in jail would have been seen across the world as cruel and degrading treatment.

This would be our view even if Megrahi were guilty of the monstrous crime of which he was convicted. However, as every person in the legal profession, in politics and the media knows Megrahi did not carry out the Lockerbie bombing. Megrahi was in fact the subject of a massive frameup by the British and US Governments and a grotesque miscarriage of justice by the Scottish judiciary. Ultimately he was, as a loyal Libyan official, sacrificed as a pawn in a geopolitical game - handed to Scotland to end sanctions and released to develop oil.

We contend that every Scottish politician knows this. Yet in a Scottish Parliament debate only Christine Grahame MSP clearly called for the truth about Lockerbie to be revealed. Instead Labour, Lib Dems and Tories disgracefully argued that Megrahi should have died in jail or been denied a final meeting with his family. These hypocritical rantings successfully diverted attention from calls for a Lockerbie enquiry.

Nor is the SNP off the hook. Kenny MacAskill was in receipt of medical evidence about Megrahi's imminent death a week before he took his decision. He and Salmond both had stated their opposition to releasing Megrahi under prisoner transfer. Why then did he delay his decision till Megrahi had dropped his appeal? He could have released him the previous week. He chose to link the judgements, in fact telling Megrahi that he would have to drop his appeal to be considered for release. The only reasonable conclusion is that the Scottish Government wanted the appeal dropped and as Megrahi's lawyers indicated placed heavy pressure on him to do so.

Clearly the appeal was an embarassment to the US Government as the role of the CIA in covering up evidence and their prior knowledge of the planned bombing, even warning US citizens to avoid the plane, could be revealed. The UK Government wants nothing to interfere with trade. The Libyan Government may want to "normalise" relations with western capitalism and improve the lot of its people using oil revenues. The Scottish Government appears afraid that its much vaunted legal system will be shown to have systematically denied justice at every stage in the process.

Virtually every senior member of the judiciary was involved in some way in Megrahi's trial or appeal. They chose to have the trial outwith Scotland, they dispensed with a jury, they accepted the withholding of crucial evidence on security grounds, they chose to accept utterly flimsy evidence and believe unreliable witnesses paid millions to make up stories. Following a ludicrous conviction, they on appeal released one accused despite the fact both were required to conspire to have any tenuous plausibility of being involved. They delayed and delayed. After a second appeal was lodged, they delayed again until Megrahi was nearly dead.

Our judiciary are very intelligent men and women.. It begars belief that after years of legal experience they made so many mistakes by accident. But this conviction was no accident. Megrahi had to be found guilty to please Westminster and Washington. Iran, long suspected as having funded the PFLP-GC to carry out the bombing, needed to be onside so that Washington could invade Iraq. The Scottish judiciary as loyal members of the international capitalist establishment did their part and found Megrajh guilty and kept him in jail.

Now the Scottish Government as loyal parts of the same establishment are determined to cover up the crimes of their judiciary, the crimes of the various governments in bringing about the trial and the crimes of the real Lockerbie bombers.

Solidarity opposes individual terrorism and also state terrorism. We condemn the bombing by the US of Gaddafi's family and the killing of his step daughter; we condemn the shooting down by US warship Vincennes of Iran air 655, killing 290 passengers and crew including 66 children and the commendation of the perpetrators by the US Government; we condemn the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie killing 270. We call for a full public inquiry into Lockerbie to find the real bombers and expose those who lied and covered up. Sadly all the main parties seem committed to the cover up..

DGS bi-monthly online magazine

Democratic Green Socialist

Issue No. 8 - Aug/Sep/Oct 2009

Contents:

* Editorial - After the Vesta occupation; bringing together the red and green threads. Also SWP votes to back a yes vote for independence,

* Latest news and views - Gary Fraser looks at the implications of the al-Megrahi release; Jock Penman on Diageo and the fight for Scottish Jobs; and Shirley Gibb asks what is it with Swine Flu?

* Culture - On seeing Orcas in Burra Sound, a poem by Steve Arnott; Steve Mowat argues that socialists should back the reforestation and rehabilitation of natural hillside habitats; and Joanne Telfer takes a cultural/historical look at why a boat sailing on a Sunday still causes a stooshie in Stornoway, as Lewis literalists collide with modernity

* Your Letters - Stop the War calls for mobilisation, building unity at ground level, and a call for a debate on what constitutes human rights for socialists.

* Science - Gordon Morgan outlines A Climate Change Plan for Scotland; Mina Penrose reprints Barack Obama's speech to the US Academy of Sciences and argues that the Bush anti-science era is well and truly at an end.

* International - John Wight on Afghanistan, and paying tribute to the proud history of military refuseniks.

* History - Gary Fraser’s Deconstructing Hitler Part II; Graeme McIver uncovers a hidden part of Scotland’s history with the swashbuckling story of enlightenment radical Thomas Muir.

* The Big Idea - The recent Milburn report into social mobility showed that our society is more divided by class than ever when it comes to working class people getting access to top jobs. Steve Mowat argues that it will take radical action, not platitudes about aspiration, to tackle the class glass ceiling

* And finally - the silly season for Scotland’s Holy Wullies.