Party positions The other Europe
The SNP (left Nationalists claiming to be Social Democrats with around 25% of the vote) support a Scottish Parliament as a stepping stone to Independence. Their leadership support the EU and have a policy for Scottish Independence in Europe. But their base, which is more left wing, increasingly opposes the Bosses Europe on social grounds.
Labour (which wins 45%-50% of Scottish votes in British elections) was split over devolution in 1979. Since then, a substantial nationalist wing has developed within the party. Whilst many in Scottish Labour are still Unionists, they realise that a substantial part of the party would switch to SNP if Labour didn't deliver on its promises for a Parliament. In the September 1997 referendum, Labour this time was united behind the Yes campaign. Doubters reluctantly accepted that this reform was the best way to defend the Union with England.
The Liberals (a bourgeois party with 10% of the Scottish vote, and increasingly aligned with Labour at the British level) have always supported Home Rule, and particularly the Proportional Representation voting system it will bring.
The Scottish Conservatives (14% electoral support) are formally opposed to the idea of a Scottish Parliament. But they accept the reality of its popular support. They may eventually back greater autonomy for Scotland, within the European Union.
The Greens also backed the Parliament, but have almost vanished as an electoral
Most of the far left supported a Yes vote, even the SWP, which opposed the 1979 devolution campaign. Some very small groups called for a boycott, arguing that real self determination' was not on offer.
The anti-capitalist left in Scotland is fairly small. The only groups which contest elections are the Scottish Socialist Alliance (SSA) and Socialist Labour Party. Both these groups have formed over the last two years, since Miners' leader Arthur Scargill led a
Reporting direct action is "conspiracy" say
British police
In January 1996 editors of Green Anarchist magazine and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) Support Group Newsletter were charged with "conspiracy to incite persons unknown to commit criminal damage" on the basis of news and comment they had published. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of ten years. The trial, which began at Portsmouth Crown Court on August 26th, opens the way for similar attacks on any publication deemed to be in favour of direct action. If the reporting of direct action can constitute incitement this has very worrying implications for freedom of speech. "Public Interest Immunity" Certificates have been used to suppress evidence of secret service actions in the gathering of evidence
A protest petition is being circulated by Corporate Watch, Reclaim the Streets, Squall, The McLibel Support Campaign, and radical publications. * Contacts: • Corporate Watch, Box E, 111 Magdalen Road Oxford 0X4 1RQ, © +44 01865 791 391 Email <mail@corporatewatch.i-way.co.uk> • The GAndALF Defendants' Campaign, PO Box 66, Stevenage, SG1 2TR, Britain • McLibel Support Campaign, PO Box 62, Craftsbury VT 05826-0062, USA. Internet: <www.mcspotlight.org/> Emai dbriars@world.std.com> Phone/Fax 802-586-9628. To join the "mclibel" electronic mailing list, send a message "subscribe mclibel" to <majordomo@world.std.com>. Class War no more
The Class War Federation has dissolved. The group emerged from England's anarchist scene in the early 1980s in opposition to "pacifist, middle-class, and anti-organisational tendencies"
Despite criticism from other anarchists, Class War celebrated violence against the ruling class and police, and built one of Britain's stronger anarchist federations.
Their newspaper inspired many other anarchist papers to adopt a more humorous and provocative approach. They published a book, Unfinished Business: The Politics of Class War, which was widely distributed
The final edition of their newspaper is subtitled "an open letter to the revolutionary movement." The articles explain their reasons for folding the federation, and make many honest and sober self-criticisms. Class War is dissolving to clear the ground to try to build toward something new, but they don't say what.
The majority of the London Class War group disagreed with the decision to fold, and is continuing with the original project. * Source: Love & Rage Vol.8 #4, August-September 1997 Berlin squats evicted
The three major squats in East Berlin were evicted in the early hours of July 29. All had been squatted for seven years. Some 500 riot police took part in the evictions, including SEK special units with machine guns, dropped by helicopter onto the roofs of the houses.
According to the Hausermob squatters network, "these were just about the last squats left in Berlin. You can count the rest on one hand... People need to stop hiding in their shadows and complaining that there are no new perspectives. There won't be any unless we make them ourselves!" * Source: www.hou.net/hmob/
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