Colin Fox argues independence has been merely deferred and delayed but cannot be evaded Scotland is a country like no other today and has been for months. The level of political engagement in the independence referendum has been absolutely extraordinary and with 50,000 people applying to join the three independence parties in its immediate aftermath […]
Allan Grogan looks for new beginnings to return to old values History may speak of the 2014 referendum as the turning point for Scotland. With a huge turnout to vote, record numbers attending public meetings, discussions on economy, oil and poverty everywhere you went. It is clear that Scotland has once again discovered its political […]
Cat Boyd argues the pro-independence left needs to create a new party For over 700 days, the people of Scotland were hammered by a fear campaign orchestrated by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and, of course, the Labour Party. If the working class were the only ones to vote in the independence referendum, there would have […]
Neil Findlay and Tommy Kane argue for a ‘real’ Labour response to the referendum result Nearly a week on from the referendum, a picture based on fact, not myth, wishful thinking or conjecture, is emerging. Of course, the most salient fact we knew only a few hours after the polls closed, when in the early […]
Katy Clark suggests the appetite for social change can be satisfied The result is now known but the referendum fallout looks as if it will be with us for a long time to come. The last few months have divided communities, the labour movement and fundamentally shifted the political landscape. Although many of those who […]
John Foster sees hope for the left if it adopts the correct strategy to connect with citizens The referendum result poses big challenges for socialists and all on the left. The SNP’s formula for independence was, indeed, rejected and the scale of that rejection was bigger than many, including myself, expected. Yet Labour’s working class […]
Richard Leonard argues for deep-seated change across the whole of Britain after 18 September People are right to be angry and right to be crying out for change. The crisis in the global financial markets caused by the richest in society has been used to attack the poorest in society through an austerity programme which […]
Stephen Low argues powers are for a purpose and not an end in themselves The starting point for any consideration of the referendum campaign and what the left does now has to be an acknowledgement and recognition of a level of political commitment in Scotland that is unprecedented in our history. Two million people went […]
John Wight writes that ‘no’ won in spite of itself but that makes it no easier for the pro-independence left to influence the SNP The telling aspect of the most historic election in UK political history was not the unprecedented 85 percent turnout. Nor was it the achievement of the Yes campaign in mobilising and […]
Grahame Smith outlines the most likely post-referendum scenario, showing there are opportunities and dangers After two years, during which the independence referendum has been the all-consuming context for political and economic decision making in Scotland, the people have spoken. While the result was a decisive vote for Scotland to remain in the UK, with 45% […]