Folks involved in the Radical Independence Campaign have been having some discussions relating to our attitudes towards the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026, including (because it’s a supposedly “new” factor) the “left” party being set up by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, its implications for Scotland, for Scottish self-determination, and for RIC. Corbyn was, of course, the Leader of the Labour Party, before Starmer. Folk in the Radical Independence Campaign tend to be very wary of putting their trust in ANY would-be “Leaders”. Anyway, here’s my own personal views on some of these things.
It looks like this ‘new’ party is likely to be more “left wing” than the Labour Party on social issues, as well as more “left wing” on international issues (Palestine etc). So far as Scotland is concerned, the most we can say at present is that it looks like they would maybe be a wee bit more in favour of us having democratic self-determination, but probably won’t be terribly enthusiastic about independence as such.
If they do manage to get things together enough to stand candidates for the regional list in May 2026, they could take some votes from Starmer’s Labour, but they could also be competing for votes with the Greens and with the Scottish Socialist Party, (which is more clearly “left-wing” as well as being strongly pro-Independence).
Although “radical” gets twisted by governments and media nowadays, the origin of this adjective is in the Latin word for “roots”; so, it means seeking social or political change of fundamental nature, getting to the roots of problems. The Radical Independence Campaign is of course “radical”; also firmly for “Independence” (says so right there in the name); and, as a campaign, not a political party, we don’t stand in elections, and we don’t tell folk how to vote in elections either.
Non-party-political referendums, where no politicians get “elected”, are different; yes, vote Yes 😀 But independence referendums have been totally and permanently banned by the corrupt UK ruling class. Also, where elections are concerned, being non-party-political doesn’t mean we can’t give folk some very good reasons not to get fooled by that slippery privileged posh con-man Nigel Fromage, for instance.
In early 2026, at a time of heightened political awareness, we might be seeking to get across our message, but, as a campaign, we won’t be taking part in party politics. Some RIC members or supporters might choose to support a political party. Maybe some might even like the look of this one from Sultana and Corbyn. That would be up to them as individuals; but as a non-party-political campaign, of course we won’t support any party.
Speaking of getting to the roots of things, class struggle is a daily reality. The fight back against attacks, by folk in positions of power and privilege, on sections of the working class, attacks which are, in practice, on our class as a whole, that fight continues.
A helluva lot could still happen in 2025; besides, as I see it, REGARDLESS how any party-political event may turn out, the fight against our enemies of this corrupt, despicable, parasitic, UK ruling class, has to go on, has to intensify, and can only be over when they, and all of their works, are finally consigned to that proverbial dustbin of history.
