Populism arises in a democratic vacuum

Today’s Scotland on Sunday editorial asserts that “populists” are destroying democracy when populism can only arise in a democratic vacuum. It’s a reaction to democracy’s destruction by the corporate interests that have completely captured the UK political establishment and control the media, The Scotsman included.

That’s why it’s accurate to refer to the uni-party since there’s no discernable difference between the Tories and English Labour apart from their logos. Sir Keir has purged any ‘liberals’ from English Labour’s ranks, ruthlessly consolidating power at the behest of his corporate donors. He’s ignored the party membership’s decisive vote in 2022 for proportional representation just as he brushed aside their vote to renationalise energy and the railways, and ditched every other manifesto pledge he made before becoming leader.

He dutifully carried out the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) demands to destroy Jeremy Corbyn by accusing him of antisemitism, just because Corbyn opposed Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and has been a lifelong supporter of Palestine’s struggle for justice. LFI influence is why Starmer sees nothing wrong with Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Starmer has also betrayed Labour’s young members, whom Corbyn did so much to energise. He has prevented them from organizing a conference and even removed their access to social media, lest they remind him that English Labour used to champion the working classes and the marginalised.

The final proof that Starmer’s an establishment cypher is his and Reeves’ veneration of the parasitic City of London and the financial capitalism it breeds that’s bleeding this sad little island dry, as well as their refusal to use the powers of government to improve people’s lives.  

If Scotland had an independent media, it would have called out this charade long ago, galvanising the Scottish People to end this failing union and build a more just nation.