The Scottish Un-enlightment Continues Unabated, Radical Independence Campaigners could decide to 'up the ante' with 'civil disobedience' protests in London, how would anyone notice them protesting, they are so few, Sean Clerkin 'set the standard' with flag and document burning, is the RIC going to set London a blaze or are they just going to hang round a few street corners looking tacky?

Dear All 

Do you remember the Scottish Resistance? During the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, all sorts of oddballs emerged, but the group dubbed the Scottish Resistance, they stood out, led by one, Sean Clerkin. In several exciting adventures, (at least for them) these people got noticed, one such event was document burning, of course you will remember the old adage, “Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.” Clerkin and his gang haven't burned people, but they did manage to get a handle on flag burning, burning the Union Jack. Periodically, the press run a Sean Clerkin story which usually involves him looking like an idiot. It seems that Clerkin likes burning the Union Jack, having done so in Edinburgh and of course in Glasgow. In one video, down the 'barras', just across from the wallpaper showroom Capone's, there was Clerkin in a video trying to burn the Union Jack with a apparently defective lighter. It took him awhile but he eventually managed it. The video is what it is, an embarrassment all round. One thing that it isn't is campaigning, nor is it changing hearts  and minds. Sean Clerkin, it appears never learned the lesson, don't play with matches, or in his case, cheap lighters. 

One thing is certain, Clerkin has attained a vast experience as being a general nuisance and a disruptive pest. I personally don't know how valuable that is for a linkedin profile, because it isn't really a skill that employers are looking for. Clerkin however in his own way has set a template, which seems others are willing to take up. I suppose it is ironic that some people who laughed at his previous antics are now appearing to want to enlist as fellow travelers. 

Scottish independence supporters are saying that they may take protests onto the streets of London in a push for another referendum, the elusive myth of indyref 2. The problem of protesting in London is that it is so big, it is doubtful that any meaningful size protest will take place. None of the political parties will back it, the press will give it very limited coverage, bordering on slightly more than nil, and presumably some people who look stupid and act stupid will be picked out for being held up as 'rockets'. If they find someone really mental, you might see them getting interviewed and appear on the telly! The group which is said to be treading the 'Clerkin' route is The Radical Independence Campaign (RIC). Before I rattle on, here is a link to their AGM to get a feel for what they are all about. 

http://radical.scot/wp-content/uploads/RIC_AGM_Notes_4Apr2015_AA_Edi.pdf 

According to their website, they have stated: 

" RIC was a Scotland-wide, non-party-political campaigning organisation that was active between 2012 and 2020. It was disbanded on a national level in January 2021, due to factionalism and incompatible approaches to organising. Some local groups may still choose to operate under the RIC name." 

Did they 'reform the band' or is this new "tenants" operating the brand. You could describe this organisation as a 'lefty' one, given the reasons stated for disbanding, "factionalism and incompatible approaches to organising". But here they are again, saying that the RIC will hold its annual conference on June 12, offering workshops on planning acts of civil disobedience to pressure the UK Government. What is interesting is the touting that acts of civil disobedience will be the new normal of politics campaigning, so who gets a 'visit'? Whose local authorities are seen as ripe for protest, will they be protesting in SNP controlled council areas? The cost of time, money and resources travelling to London is certainly a non starter. Will we have border protests, and if so, what would that entail, targeted nonsense outside any pro UK constituency offices, picket at the new Scotland Office in Edinburgh, maybe picket at Holyrood? It seems that a spokesman for RIC said acts of civil disobedience could be held as I suspected at the Scotland Office in Edinburgh or the Faslane naval base. Obviously they will have banners just in case anyone mistakes them for CND, ban the bomb crowd. I think, the Scotland Office in Edinburgh best do a security review, I would bet on them getting visits. Faslane looks like weekend protesting to me, who knows later on they may do down the beach, and get fish and chips, take the weans out for a day out as well. The notion of blockading outposts of the UK Government isn't new, it's all been done before. Even as far back as 40 years ago when CND picketed Faslane and there was a 'peace camp'. 40 years later and Faslane is still there, those who protested are either dead or drawing their old age pension. 

An RIC spokesman said: 

“Civil disobedience has been much discussed in the independence movement, but there’s been little plan of how to take effective protest action that will have a big impact but also attract public support. This could mean taking to the streets of London, or blockading outposts of the UK Government. The Radical Independence conference will bring together people with experience of direct action to strategise how to move the discussion forward.” 

If direct action is on the table, then surely that has to apply to SNP politicians? You would have to be talking picketing SNP constituency offices of MPs and MSPs, and surgeries for Councillors. Could RIC protestors picket Nicola Sturgeon's house in Baillieston? I suppose that idea will be on the table, but it might take a few years to work through, once they realise that Nicola Sturgeon isn't delivering anything, and especially not indyref 2. I don't do demos, to me, it isn't politics and generally is negative, it doesn't matter how many people march in the streets, because in the main, it doesn't affect a politicians' quality of life. One backer of the new 'Clerkin initative' could be the Alba Party led by Alex Salmond, during the election campaign, former first minister Alex Salmond said mass protests could be a feature of negotiations with the UK Government on Scotland’s independence. I don't see the RIC going anywhere, because any organuisation which has SNP members in it, or speaking on behalf of it is already compromised. The RIC conference is apparently set to look to “re-energise a radical grassroots movement for independence”, to me, this is a retread of Yes Scotland. The reason I said this, is because Yes Scotland was effectively run by the SNP, their ranks were filled with SNP stooges such as Shirley Anne Somerville, the RIC is allowing SNP wannabe MSP and Cllr Graham Campbell as one of its speakers. Campbell is the partner of SNP MP Anne McLaughlin, and McLaughlin is the pal of Nicola Sturgeon. In politics, there is a piece of nonsense when a person says they are wearing different hats or in this case titles that somehow make them independence. SNP Cllr Graham Campbell is signed up fully to the SNP agenda, because if he steps out of line, any potential MSP or MP candidacy spot would be gone. 

The RIC spokesman added: 

“It’s undeniable there is now a clear democratic mandate for another independence referendum. But Boris Johnson and the UK Government are in denial and are set to continue to refuse Scotland’s right to self-determination. Voting for independence-supporting politicians isn’t going to be enough. An independence referendum can only be won by grassroots campaigning in communities. And another referendum will only be won if independence is seen as an opportunity for radical change, to tackle the crises of poverty, inequality and climate change.” 

Finally, in life, we all experience setbacks and failures, however we don't usually queer our own pitch before we start an adventures, sometimes, things, people and bad luck just work against us. I see the Radical Independence Campaign as like a car on a roundabout, it doesn't matter how fast or how slow it goes, it doesn't matter if it changes lanes or stays in the same lane. It doesn't matter who the driver is, or if the driver changes, it can only go in one direction, round and round because there is no exit. Maybe The Alba Party will sign up with them, but I suspect that Salmond is too smart to engage fully, you see Salmond's crew are building an organisation, and as such they want to be seen as a replacement to the SNP. That takes time, it also takes being strict about how they operate. I would say this, remember Keith Brown and Mhairi Black doing the discredited AUOB marches, although they were seen to be there, they weren't seen to be "involved". AUOB, Yes Scotland and the Radical Independence Campaign, they are all pretty much the same. In some cases, you will find the same people supporting them and maybe even organising them. The SNP during the indyref in 2014 had many little groups which were setup and controlled by SNP members, to give the false illusion of mass support. I doubt that the Radical Independence Campaign is a vehicle that can go anywhere, I would also say any SNP member connected will probably steer the group away from any criticism of Nicola Sturgeon or the SNP. Sean Clerkin for Honorary Vice President in charge of annoyance anyone? I think this song, Blockheads should be their new anthem, it just works!

Yours sincerely 

George Laird                                                                                                                                The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University