Scottish Nationalism OK, British Nationalism not? The left's confused approach

 

Photo: By Azerifactory

Kei Starmers recent move to embrace the country we all live in and move away from the perceived "anti-Britishness" left behind by his predecessor has caused an outcry on the left and accusations of "petty nationalism" being behind so many of our probelems and will enable racism. The latter is a bit of a joke after the well documented antisemitism outbreak on the so called left that these people proclaim to be from.

A clear example of this hypocrisy is shown in the latest issue of Socialist Worker where on the one hand they report:

A new organisation, Now Scotland, was launched last weekend to campaign for Scottish independence. Over 1,500 people had joined by Sunday afternoon.

Co-convenor George Kerevan told Socialist Worker, “The independence movement has long since spilled out beyond the Scottish National Party (SNP), so the ­movement needs an umbrella to unite it.

“It is obvious that there are deep tensions within the SNP over ­strategy and policy.

“Now Scotland wants to unite the movement in action and allow people to argue their separate political positions.

“One thing Now Scotland can do, because we don’t have the baggage of a political party, is to reach out to the unions and even to Labour Party members.....

The Socialist Workers Party said, “There is now a consistent majority in Scotland who support independence. However, the SNP seems incapable of making a serious push to achieve the break-up of the British state.

In other words full support to Scottish nationalism. Most of the left takes a similar view. 

However the SWP along with other left groups including the Communist Party and the remnants of Militant all opposed British membership of the EU.

Image: Socialist Worker's anti-internationalism?

Yet as always if anyone takes pride in their own country and waves the flag we are condemned. Socialist Worker continues

There are layers upon layers of dangerous lies behind Labour’s turn towards nationalism under Keir Starmer.

The biggest lie is that this is something unifying and progressive. The most dangerous is that it’s about identifying with the needs and demands of working class people.

For all the pretence that talking about “patriotism” shouldn’t be taken as a sop to racism and the right, it very clearly is.

Why else would Labour target areas where it thinks patriotism is an election-winning issue with adverts carrying the dog whistle message, “Britain is locked down. But the borders are still open. Any idea why?”

Patriotism has nothing to do with racism or the far right and can be a unifying factor to bring the country together regardless of background. There is no need to be ashamed of being British. This country has been long welcoming of immigrant communities and most have successfully integrated. 

Yes there are problems. The UK just like every other country in the world has it's issues and racism is not just a white phenomenon. Ask the people  of West Papua about their treatment by Indonesia or look at the fate of the Tibetans and Uyghur in China. The list is legion...

Much of the working class that these Socialist Worker types arrogantly claim to be the vanguard of is highly patriotic and tolerant. Seeking to control immigration and take action about people entering the UK without checks during a pandemic is not racist in any shape or form. Simply a reasonable policy that should, especially with the latter been implemented much earlier.