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Remember John MacLean on November 30th |
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By Solidarity MSP, Tommy Sheridan Published in todays Morning Star www.morningstaronline.co.uk “Scottish Separation is part of the process of England’s Imperial disintegration and is a help towards the ultimate triumph of the workers of the world.” So wrote the great John MacLean on his election address for the Gorbals division in the December 1923 Parliamentary election. Sadly he didn’t win but as the Scottish Parliament debated the idea of a new public holiday on the occasion of St Andrew’s day, November 30th each year, I hope the memory and spirit of Scotland’s greatest ever socialist is also celebrated on that day. For John MacLean, born in 1879, didn’t live to see the 6th December 1923 election. He died from pneumonia six days before on 30th November 1923 aged only 44.John MacLean was a world recognised socialist in his day. From the bread and butter issues of opposition to rent rises and support for workers striking for better pay to his courageous and steadfast opposition to the cruel carnage that was the First World War.
While other so-called socialists succumbed to the jingoism of the day MacLean campaigned against workers in one country being deployed to slaughter workers in another country in the name of profits and markets: “It was not the workers who instigated the war. The workers nave no economic interest to serve as a consequence of the war…” stated MacLean from the dock in Edinburgh’s High Court in May 1918. He stood accused of treason and inciting the workers to rebel against the war. He was sentenced to five years hard labour at Peterhead Prison.That was one of five occasions that MacLean, a schoolteacher and revolutionary, was imprisoned for his socialist beliefs and campaigns. His body was certainly broken by the rigours of coldness and sleep denial he faced during his various detentions but his spirit was never broken. MacLean fought for a world of fairness and justice. Where the community owned the wealth and all human beings were guaranteed a decent quality and standard of life. “We are out for life and all that life can give us” he declared in Scotland’s highest court to the discomfort of the wealthy elite present. He was made the Honoury Consul of the world’s first worker’s government when Russia’s Lenin bestowed the honour upon him following their successful Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. Even in Russia MacLean’s name was revered. Yet, sadly, in Glasgow and across Scotland most workers will be unaware of John MacLean. Despite his heroic role in supporting the Glasgow rent strikes, helping to organise workers on the Clyde and opposing the ‘war to end all wars’ MacLean does not feature in standard text books at school. A real Glasgow hero, a giant of the socialist and trade union movement, is erased from the school curriculum. That’s why alongside the campaign to secure a new public holiday for a workforce damned to longer hours and less holidays than the average across Europe I hope we can use the day in future to revive the memory of MacLean and educate a new generation about his ideas. MacLean’s brand of socialism is as much required today for ordinary workers as it was in his lifetime. In MacLean’s native Scotland in 2006 20% of individuals live on less than £5,000 per annum and 21% of households survive on less than £10,000 a year. We may be in the 21st century and take certain things like access to colour TVs, washing machines and even central heating for granted but poverty and obscene inequality still stalks our communities. MacLean would have led the rage across Scotland, England and Wales against an alleged ‘Labour’ Government that has delivered such a criminal increase in wealth among the richest. The gap between rich and poor today is higher than at any time since records began. The top 1,000 fact cats have witnessed a 204% increase in their collective wealth since 1997. From £99.98 billion to £300 billion today. Among only 1,000 people. It is truly obscene and must always be borne in mind as we demand £200 a week non-means tested pensions, higher benefits and an £8 an hour minimum wage. Such demands are not extreme or unrealistic. When considered alongside the combined wealth of the top 1,000 they become merely meek and moderate demands. MacLean would have also led the anti-war campaign against the carnage that is Iraq and Afghanistan. Facing sedition charges himself in that famous May 9th, 1918 trials he said: “I stand here then not as the accused but as the accuser. The accuser of capitalism dripping with blood from head to toe.” A more apt description to be applied to Bush and Blair today could not be found. So as the Scottish Parliament votes today to declare November 30th a public holiday each year we socialists in Scotland should ensure part of the celebration is dedicated to the life of one of our greatest sons, the Great John MacLean. AS the Glasgow socialist, singer and songwriter, Matt McGinn, wrote; “There was nane like John MacLean, the fighting Dominie (an old Scots word for teacher). |
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