Any Scots here?

  1. William Wallace
    I figuire I'd ask. My name's Chris, I'm a socialist and a member of the Scottish National Party, and of course a sympathiser of the Irish struggle. Are there any other Scots hanging around here?
  2. LeninBalls
    LeninBalls
    I think Dr Mindbender is Scottish but living in Belfast/has Scottish family. There's a few Scots on the forum but I don't think many if any in this group.
  3. Philosophical Materialist
    Philosophical Materialist
    That's all well and good comrade. But why the neoliberal SNP over Solidarity Scotland or the SSP?
  4. PRC-UTE
    PRC-UTE
    the poster YKTMX who's in this group is a Scot iirc

    yeah, Mindbender/UlsterSocialist mentioned that he lived in Scotland

    there's a quality revleft poster named Andy Bowden who is Scottish. I don't think he joined this usergroup, but he does support a united Ireland. He's active in the SSP
  5. William Wallace
    William Wallace
    That's all well and good comrade. But why the neoliberal SNP over Solidarity Scotland or the SSP?
    I don't consider the SNP to be neoliberal, they're definitely not a Marxist party, but they still have enough socialist policies to disqualify them as neoliberal. I'm in the SNP because they're the most active and largest Scottish nationalist party, and the only one with a chance of making Scotland independent. Even if it's not Socialist, an independent Scotland is still striking a blow at imperialism.
  6. post revolution dazza
    post revolution dazza
    yes im scottish. on your point about the SNP it is a mixed party. some are socialists and republicans and some are monarchist neo liberals. i personally like republican rose for her anti monarchy stance and richard lyle for helping my family but any of them that want the monarchy still as a figure head i have no respect for
  7. Wanted Man
    Wanted Man
    I'm not Scottish, but I go there occasionally, and take some interest in what goes on across the sea (North Sea, as I'm from the Netherlands). I haven't been to Scotland often or know enough about its politics to really be able to afford an opinion, so if there's anything mistaken about what I'm saying, I'd like to know. Still, I'll not hold back about what I do think, so if it comes across as harsh, I'm sorry.

    My position, as far as my limited knowledge allows, is that I am not particularly fond of Scottish nationalism, and I do not think that an independent Scotland can be formed in the interests of the working class at this time.

    Is there now a class-conscious movement for Scottish independence along socialist lines, or is it a parliamentary game? Everything seems to point to the latter case at the moment. It seems to me that people like Wallace here are too forgiving towards the SNP because of the emotional attachment to the idea of a "free" Scotland, but ignoring more material issues, like, say, the SNP's recent pact with the Tories in making sweeping cuts that certainly don't seem like "socialist policies" to me.

    Yet perhaps such a thing is not relevant to people who think the issue of independence is more important than anything, and therefore continue backing the SNP, because they are the only viable nationalist party. What can you say to people like that, who might excuse the worst possible measures as long as you put a little Scottish flag at the top of the papers detailing them? That kind of mentality is the exact problem with first-world regional nationalism in general. If they actually do hold a referendum and Scotland becomes independent in any way, do you think the SNP would suddenly start instituting "socialist policies"?

    So, even aside from that, what else is there? The SSP or Solidarity? Be serious. A mass movement of any kind? What, perhaps 1,000 people marching behind a pipe band. Hello??? Who does that include? Certain leftists who think nationalism takes precedence, and the kind of people who will support anyone who gives them flags, pipes, and more regular football games against the Auld Enemy so that God Save the Queen can be booed and everyone can feel good about themselves for 90 minutes.

    At best, these are all very nice things, but completely unrelated to "socialist policies" or "striking a blow at imperialism". At worst, they can serve as a useful way to keep people blissfully ignorant while pushing through neoliberalism.