I think it’s important for these questions to be answered, since we see Cromwell mentioned almost constantly, and little Cromwell books being waved around by the English as if in some desire to return to that past. Colonisation under Cromwell did not work. It has led us to where we are. Whilst I am not an avid historian I am Scottish and have traveled in class based circles, and have encountered extreme cultural clashes with some of those who profess to be lifting us away from that past. Is there a desire to return the Scots to what happened under Cromwell? Will Scotland be subjugated again? Will Scots be preferentially killed and deported if they do not comply? People can think I’m extreme, but I’m not the one waving Cromwell books around, as if Cromwell is the new coming. Many Scottish people were killed. That wasn’t patriotism for Scotland. It wasn’t nationalism for the Scottish people. It wasn’t addressing historical ‘wounds’. It was forced occupation and subjugation, and whilst we have much bigger issues on the horizon in Britain, I think Scots deserve answers. Is the aim for Cromwell’s actions to play out again? What if what happened to the Scots took place against the English? How would the English feel about that? And yes it is important, because what we are all exploring with Restore and current political movements, is how millions of lower class people of Britain have been systematically ignored, derided, cast aside, allowed to be raped and groomed and tortured, and various other atrocities, all for a greater what seems to be colonising aim. Similar to what Cromwell aimed for. Power whilst not listening. Conglomeration at the cost of the lower class, and at the cost of Scottish lives and dignity and sense of being. Maybe the reason why Scots have innate patriotism such as that which Rupert Lowe professes to admire, is because of a history of having to grasp onto a sense of themselves tenuously, against repeated occupation. Yes these points are important. If I’m wrong historically someone can correct me and I’ll be corrected, but I don’t think I’m wrong in my feelings and in my long standing cultural observations. Scots need a vision of the future under Restore, and they need to feel listened to. It is a country.

Surely the method of colonialism which Scotland was subjected to under English rule, is what has led us to where we are? The idea that we have to suspend the belief that there are differences between people and between countries for a greater more imperialistic aim? The idea that we have to forcibly silence any discussion about those differences to serve a very few who become rich at the denial and death of others. The idea that we have to forcibly assimilate those seen as lower than us rather than face the truth. Cromwell put that aim and those methods above the existence of the Scottish people. Mass graves were discovered at Durham Cathedral in 2013, full of Scots. “Of the roughly 6,000 Scots captured, around 3,000 survived the brutal march south to Durham. They were held in the freezing, then-abandoned castle and cathedral, with an estimated 30 to 50 men dying daily.” That’s not something I can get on board with.

Surely the method of colonialism which Scotland was subjected to under English rule, is what has led us to where we are? The idea that we have to suspend the belief that there are differences between people and between countries for a greater more imperialistic aim? The idea that we have to forcibly silence any discussion about those differences to serve a very few who become rich at the denial and death of others. The idea that we have to forcibly assimilate those seen as lower than us rather than face the truth. Cromwell put that aim and those methods above the existence of the Scottish people. Mass graves were discovered at Durham Cathedral in 2013, full of Scots. “Of the roughly 6,000 Scots captured, around 3,000 survived the brutal march south to Durham. They were held in the freezing, then-abandoned castle and cathedral, with an estimated 30 to 50 men dying daily.” That’s not something I can get on board with.

Rupert Lowe frequently discusses his admiration and exultation for Cromwell. Within the same breath there has been a repeated desire to inculcate the English with the same sense of innate patriotism that the Scots have. He has made this clear in previous posts, and overall he had made clear that he sees England as his country first, before Britain. Let me be clear I do not resent this, as I see Scotland as my country first before Britain. Britain is an extremely classist country, and I feel that for most of my life I’ve been excluded culturally from activities at a high standing which go under the banner of the Union Jack. I’m not talking about East End activities. I’m talking about activities and events in upper class predominantly English circles. Scots are often seen as secondary at places like the Olympics, and in other cultural settings, and it is hard to fit your identity into an overarching one which often has not included you and which in my experience purposely excludes you and looks down upon you. The first time I’ve seen the Union Jack and the sense of Britain embrace the Scots in fact, is under Restore. It seems that the English to a large degree feel the way the Scots have, and they’re showing it. Many Scots have felt that way for a very long time, I have to say, often in relation to the English. I am not here to argue with rabid supporters one way or another, but to deny how generationally Scots have been largely ignored and treated secondarily, like an extension of England, would be unwise and would be categorically untrue. To say that Scots ‘wounds’ were healed with England in the act of Union is whitewashing history in England’s favour, and in the favour of generationally upper class individuals in Scotland, who still exist, and who aspire to be what we consider English in manner and nature over Scottish. I would argue that this form of classism and the residual arrogance and snobbery left over from these times translates into today. Nowhere can we see it better than in the grooming gangs and in the ignorance of areas of the country, and lower class people of the country, who seem hated by that predominantly English Westminster and Royal elite. I’m diverging a little, but returning to Cromwell, this is what he did to the Scots: There was a clash at the Battle of Dunbar. Within one hour, 12,000 Parliamentarians defeated 11,000 Scots, killing ~2,000, while losing 20 men. Cromwell’s army released thousands of sick and wounded Scots, but marched the Scottish prisoners of war like cattle to Durham, 100 miles away. Many Scots perished of hunger or disease on the ground march, though some escaped. Some were executed. In Durham, the English imprisoned the Scottish prisoners of war in the castle and cathedral. Around 1600 died of dysentery, disease or starvation. The English had them buried in mass graves, only recently discovered. Scottish prisoners of war were also deported to New England, Virginia and Barbados. How would Rupert feel if Cromwell did this to the English? Does he recognise that Scotland is a country, which was colonised in this and other manners by the English? Does he accept that Scots were not represented at this time under ‘Union’. Wikipedia: “For Richard Cromwell's (heir) parliament in 1658-59, of the 30 elected, only 11 were Scots, and, of the remainder, 10 were army officers. The Scots in Westminster were treated with general xenophobia, and, when not ignored, they faced repeated motions to exclude them. One Englishman described them as “a wooden leg tied to a natural body”.” Rupert Lowe by his actions with the rape gang inquiry and Restore seeks to address Britain’s horrific class history, which has resulted in many being thrown to the wolves. For what aim however? A dominant, oppressive and colonising in favour of genocide aim such as Cromwell’s? Will Scotland and the Scottish be treated the same as Cromwell treated us. Barbaric what Cromwell did to the Scots.

Silence of MSPs at Holyrood about racist murder of Glasgow schoolboy Kriss Donald - scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/n… scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/n…

Out canvassing in Makerfield today with a great team for Rebecca & Restore Britain.