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RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance

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RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance
FoundedAugust 29, 2015 (2015)
IdeologyAnti-capitalism
Eco-socialism
Scottish independence
Scottish republicanism
Political positionLeft-wing
ColoursOrange, White
Scottish Parliament
0 / 129
Website
www.rise.scot

RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance is a left-wing electoral alliance created for the 2016 Scottish Parliament general election.[1] It was formally established at a conference in Glasgow on Saturday 29 August 2015.[2]

The name is a contrived acronym standing for Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism.

The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) is affiliated to the alliance for the Scottish Parliament election 2016, but otherwise retains its autonomy as an independent political party.[3][4]

History

Shortly after the Scottish independence referendum, the Scottish Left Project was launched online in October 2014 as a "grassroots forum for left-wing ideas and talent".[5] Its website contained an "opening statement" signed by 22 activists, which others on the left were encouraged to sign.

The initial signatories included members of the International Socialist Group, a splinter from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) whose figureheads, Cat Boyd and Jonathon Shafi, emerged as the SLP's principal spokespersons,[6] and some members of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). The statement called for a "co-ordinated socialist challenge" in the 2016 elections and included commitments to "crowdsource policies" and hold "a citizens' audit of the debt that is imprisoning our national finances".[7]

The SSP later joined negotiations to create an electoral alliance with other participants in the Scottish Left Project.[8] Former MSP Frances Curran was among prominent SSP members arguing for participation in the proposed alliance, while Allan Grogan and Liam McLaughlan—who became prominent over the course of the referendum campaign—were among 38 members who signed an open letter arguing against the move, stating that there "are no shortcuts to building a strong left-wing opposition".[9][10] The Herald reported after the vote that the new alliance was "likely to be dominated by the SSP",[6] who would be the largest component of a new arrangement. In July 2015, the Republican Communist Network, which organised within the SSP until 2012, added its support.[11]

The name of the electoral alliance was revealed as RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance by the Sunday Herald[1] ahead of an inaugural conference at the Glasgow Marriott on 29 August. The conference was addressed by speakers including SSP spokespersons Colin Fox and Sandra Webster, American activist Alicia Garza and Independent MSP Jean Urquhart.[12] A conference was arranged to be held in December to establish the alliance's policy platform and structure.[13]

In December 2015, former Scottish National Party (SNP) depute leader Jim Sillars said he would support the SNP with his constituency vote and RISE with his regional vote, adding: "If Colin Fox is on the list for Rise, I will be voting and supporting Colin Fox on the list system."[14]

Controversy

A RISE candidate in the Lothian region resigned after a row over her purported support for Tommy Sheridan during the 2006 split in the Scottish Socialist Party. Pat Smith was announced as a candidate in January 2016,[15] and resigned within weeks after concerns were raised about her role during the Sheridan defamation and perjury trials.[16]

Criticism by other groups

RISE was initially criticised by the Scottish section of the Committee for a Workers' International, after allegedly telling the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) that it could not participate in the RISE alliance with its own organisation and programme.[17] The CWI later published a second statement citing an "improvement" after RISE issued a statement which "stated that campaigns and organisations could affiliate to RISE after all".[18]

It was also criticised by the Communist Party of Britain, whose general secretary Rob Griffiths told the Morning Star on its launch: "It's an odd time to launch yet another left-wing separatist bandwagon in Scotland, when the Jeremy Corbyn campaign indicates the potential for building a united mass movement in the fight for a federal, socialist Britain. Syriza's capitulation to austerity, privatisation and the EU makes it a model to avoid rather than emulate."[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Gordon, Tom (7 June 2015). "Revealed: new Scottish left party named as RISE". The Herald. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  2. ^ "RISE, Scots left-wing electoral alliance, launches". 29 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Scotland's Socialist Party in Scotland's Left Alliance". 23 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  4. ^ Bonnar, Katie (30 August 2015). "Katie Bonnar: 'The SSP is the voice of socialism in RISE'". Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  5. ^ Gordon, Tom (12 October 2014). "By the Left ... new group aims for socialist MSPs in 2016". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b Gordon, Tom (24 May 2015). "'Scottish Syriza' to stand at next Holyrood election". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Opening Statement - Scottish Left Project". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Scottish Socialists back building new left alliance". 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  9. ^ "An Open Letter Regarding the Scottish Left Project". 18 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. ^ Gray, Michael (19 May 2015). "Scotland's divided left to debate calls for cooperation at SSP conference". Common Space. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  11. ^ "The RCN and the Scottish Left Project". 12 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza to speak at Left Launch". 10 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  13. ^ Gordon, Tom (29 November 2015). "Scotland's Syriza promises radical socialist manifesto for Holyrood election". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  14. ^ "SNP stalwart Jim Sillars is backing radical left group Rise with his list vote". The National. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "RISE list candidates for May's Holyrood election". 6 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Tommy Sheridan will quit politics if he loses at Holyrood 2016". 24 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Will RISE offer a way forward for socialists, trade unionists and those fighting austerity?". 28 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  18. ^ "The launch of a politically unclear left alliance in Scotland". 31 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Another Electoral Alliance Formed By Scottish Left". 24 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
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