Communist Labour Party (Scotland) facts for kids
- See also Communist party (disambiguation) for other groups with similar names.
Quick facts for kids
Communist Labour Party
|
|
|---|---|
| Chairman | Jack Leckie |
| National Secretary | John Maclean |
| Treasurer | Alec Geddes |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Dissolved | 1921 |
| Succeeded by | Communist Party of Great Britain |
| Ideology | Communism |
| Political position | Far-left |
The Communist Labour Party was a political group in Scotland that believed in Communism. It was a short-lived party, meaning it didn't last very long. It was formed in September 1920 and joined a larger party just a few months later in January 1921.
Contents
What Was the Communist Labour Party?
The Communist Labour Party was a political party that aimed to create a society where everyone was equal and resources were shared. This idea is called communism. The party was based in Scotland and was considered to be on the far-left of the political spectrum. This means their ideas were very different from traditional ways of running a country.
How It Started
The Communist Labour Party was created in September 1920. It was formed when several smaller groups decided to come together. These groups included:
- The Scottish Workers' Committee
- The Scottish part of the Communist Party (British Section of the Third International) (CP (BSTI))
- Some members from the Socialist Labour Party (SLP)
- Various other local communist groups
Around the same time, another similar party was formed in South Wales and the West of England.
The Role of John Maclean
A very important person named John Maclean had a big influence on the new party. At first, the group was temporarily called the Scottish Communist Party because of his ideas.
However, when the party held its first big meeting, called a founding conference, John Maclean was not there. At this meeting, the members decided to change the name to the Communist Labour Party.
Joining a Bigger Party
During the founding conference, the party members also decided that their group would only be temporary. Their main goal was to join a larger, national party called the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). This idea was strongly supported by Willie Gallacher.
Because his ideas about the party's future were not chosen, John Maclean decided to leave the Communist Labour Party. He then joined the Socialist Labour Party instead.
The Communist Labour Party, along with the rest of the CP (BSTI), officially joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in January 1921. This meant the Communist Labour Party stopped existing as a separate group.
