This section contains news and views about the fight to preserve the unity of Britain in the face of separatist attempts to split off Scotland and Wales, and EU-inspired bids to divide England with federalist regionalism. You can also follow links to key sources of information. Please email us with information about meetings or useful links.
Unity
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North East rejects 'devolution' - again
12 September 2016
The government’s plans to force councils to merge and to accept elected mayors has come off the rails in the North East of England.
Still one nation
A YouGov poll in July indicated that Britain’s decision to leave the EU has not cut Scottish support for remaining within the UK, undermining the SNP’s push for a second referendum.
Bluff and bluster from Holyrood
29 June 2016
Conveniently forgetting that over a million people in Scotland voted to quit the EU, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon now is now threatening to veto our leaving. She must know she can’t.
CalMac to remain in public ownership
29 May 2016
Operation of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services is to remain in public ownership for at least the next eight years. This victory follows an RMT campaign against a possible takeover by Serco.
EU: Why do Cameron's bidding?
4 May 2016
The CPBML’s London May Day rally heard a blistering attack on the European Union, and powerful arguments for leaving.
Glasgow meeting discusses why to leave EU
14 March 2016
A CPBML meeting in Glasgow on why trade unionists should vote to leave the EU drew a diverse and enthusiastic audience ready to contribute their own ideas.
The atomisation of England
Never mind that whenever the people have been asked they have said they don’t want it – devolution is to be forced on England…
Separatists join attack on BBC
The SNP is weighing in behind those who want to see an end to the BBC as we know it. Scottish Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has just outlined her plans for a “federal BBC with at least a Board for each nation” with a budget controlled in Scotland.
Bidding to devolve
Separately, all these would-be devolved authorities published proposals before chancellor Osborne’s September deadline, aimed at joining up between 4 and 19 local authorities. Note the imperial ambitions of “Greater” Essex and Yorkshire.
RMT support solid in Scottish ferry dispute
28 June 2015
Ferry workers halted sailings to islands on the west coast of Scotland, taking action against the threat to wages, standards and jobs arising from an EU-enforced privatisation process.
Unsustainable policies
2 May 2015
This biography of the new SNP leader by David Torrance is well-informed and full of ideas. His is both appreciative and critical of his subject. His objectvity brings out the flaws in the SNP position.
The DevoManc debacle
There’s been very little support for splitting up England whenever it has been put to the vote. Two years ago the people of Manchester voted not to have an elected mayor. They could not see why they needed yet another politician.
Three steps towards unwanted devolution
1. Plan announced to give Greater Manchester greater control of its finances and an elected mayor
2. Devolution agreement between Chancellor of the Exchequer and leaders of the GMCA
3. Memorandum of Understanding between NHS England and Greater Manchester
Scotland - The £7.6 billion hole
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has concluded that Scotland would be left with a £7.6 billion gap in its finances if it pursued fiscal autonomy, because falling oil revenues would leave the country with a tax shortfall – to be met by cuts or taxes.
Smith Commission: New plan to break up Britain
Despite the defeat of the separatists in the Scottish referendum, huge new powers are to be devolved to Edinburgh – with consequent implications for the rest of Britain.
Is Google being ironic?
30 November 2014
Today is St Andrew’s Day, and in celebration Google has a new and perhaps ironic logo: a speeding train with the Scottish Saltire on the side.
Rail: SNP sells out to Dutch
The SNP-led administration in Scotland has awarded the contract to run ScotRail to Abellio, owned by Dutch state rail company NS.
The fight to revive British shipbuilding
The defeat of separatism in the referendum has spurred some regeneration in Scottish shipyards. But the challenge remains: how to rebuild a vital industry laid waste by decades of contraction…
SNP threat to bypass referendum result
9 October 2014
SNP leader Alex Salmond promised on 19 September to accept the referendum result and he urged Yes supporters to do the same. He at once broke this promise.
Referendum: The truth about young voters
30 September 2014
Reports that 71 per cent of 16- to 17-year-olds voted Yes in the Scottish referendum don’t stand up to scrutiny, says statistics programme.
After the vote - Rebuild Britain
19 September was a great day, a great victory – a day of unity when the people of Scotland finally spoke and buried the narrow aspirations of separatism…
What democracy really means
Now that the referendum is over, the focus of the media has leapfrogged the coming months and focused on the general election. Nothing else is held to be relevant.
Concert celebrates bonds of friendship
A Glasgow concert for unity formed part of the campaign to keep Britain together by promoting the No vote in the Scottish referendum.
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