With a political crisis engulfing the Labour Party, the case for PR is back on the agenda. TONY BURKE argues trade unions must now engage on changes to our voting system
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Scotland and foreign policy – breathing democracy into the debate
by KATY CLARK
HMS Vigilant at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane, which carries Britain’s Trident nukes
YVETTE WILLIAMS and JOE DELANEY dissect the institutional dawdling that rubbed salt into the Grenfell open wounds prolonging the agony of survivors
The HS2 debacle exposes what happens when public infrastructure is handed to private contractors – especially when set against China’s state-led high-speed rail success, says CARLOS MARTINEZ
After battling hills, rain and injury in a three-day cycle ride ending at the CWU conference, MATT KERR reflects on why class unity remains the answer to injustice
Through marches, music, schools and political debate, campaigners in Tower Hamlets are using the 90th anniversary of Cable Street to inspire resistance to modern racism. GLYN ROBBINS explains
A lifelong communist and community organiser, Pinder helped shape anti-racist and anti-colonial activism in Britain while dedicating himself to youth work and collective struggle, writes David Horsley
A SIGNIFICANT driver of support for constitutional change in Scotland has been discontent with aspects of Westminster foreign affairs and defence policy. Currently, the Scottish Parliament has little role in international policy. It does however regularly discuss international issues, and votes on motions relating to a wide range of foreign affairs and defence-related matters.
The Scottish government is anti-nuclear but not anti-Nato. There is a widespread view in Scotland that the Parliament should support humanitarian projects and in the Parliament that the current aid cuts are unacceptable. There is no consensus in support of a principled stance against Western military intervention or a broader analysis of the West’s role or focus on the extent to which Scotland might seek to rupture from this settlement.
The Scottish government also has a small international budget. It undertakes work relating to several countries, and on specific issues such as safe water, and women and girls. Unlike the German Lander (states), it does not have the right to enter international treaties. Whatever position the Scottish Parliament or Scottish government takes, they have no direct input into any aspect of foreign policy taken at a UK level.
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