As the SNP build their new case for independence, proposals concerning the Scottish economy continue to revolve around the nation’s potential command over North Sea oil reserves. A recent report from the Scotsman states that according to predictions from the Oil and Gas Authority, around 11.9 billion barrels of oil will be extracted from the North Sea by 2050, ‘a hike of almost 50 per cent from the forecast four years ago, of eight billion barrels.’ The SNP have welcomed this as “great news,” verifying the “major economic potential” for Scottish oil over the next few decades, and boosting the case for a new North Sea oil fund.

Issue 28 of Revolution is out now! Includes Marxist analysis on the Brexit Crisis, the climate crisis and the supposed oil boom, looming trade union struggles, the YES movement and class divisions over currency in he SNP, the EU election, Corbyn and the Labour Party as well international news from the movement against the Bolsonaro government in Brazil and the striking dockworkers in France and Italy. We publish the editorial written by Ross Walker from the IMT Edinburgh branch.

Issue 27 of Revolution is out now! Articles Trident, Brexit, independence, the teachers dispute, land inequality, the Catalan political prisoners, Netflix’s Trotsky and more. Get your copy now and if your interested in getting active with the International Marxist Tendency, get in touch! We publish the editorial here.

The victory of Scotland’s teachers in securing a 13.51% pay rise (over three years) highlights the strength and power of organised workers. As previously reported in Revolution, teachers in Scotland have been involved in a highly protracted pay dispute. Unions have campaigned for a 10% pay rise on the basis that teachers’ pay has fallen by 24% in the last ten years in real terms whilst workloads have become even more stressful.

It is now almost five years since the first independence referendum. What have those years meant in terms of the strategy and what are the perspectives of the movement?