Communist Party of Scotland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Communist Party of Scotland
Pàrtaidh Co-Mhaoineach na h-Alba
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|---|---|
| Founded | January 1992 |
| Dissolved | circa 2018 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow |
| Ideology | Communism Marxism–Leninism Scottish independence |
| Political position | Far-left |
The Communist Party of Scotland (CPS; Pàrtaidh Co-Mhaoineach na h-Alba) was a political party based in Scotland. It was formed in January 1992. The party was created by former members of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). They started the CPS because they disagreed with the CPGB closing down and changing its name in 1991. The CPS itself stopped being active around 2018.
The Party's Story
How the Party Began
The Communist Party of Scotland (CPS) started in January 1992. It was formed by people who had been members of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). These members did not agree with the CPGB ending its activities. The first main office for the CPS was in Partick, a part of Glasgow.
Important Leaders
Some important leaders from the CPGB in Scotland joined the new CPS party. One of them was Mick McGahey. He was a well-known leader in the National Union of Mineworkers during the 1970s and 1980s. Another key person was Gordon McLennan, who had been the General Secretary of the CPGB.
Willie Clarke, who had been a CPGB local councillor in Fife since 1973, also joined the CPS. He continued to serve as an Independent councillor until he retired in 2016 due to health reasons.
Supporting Scottish Independence
The Communist Party of Scotland was different from another party called the Communist Party of Britain. That party had also formed after leaving the CPGB in 1988. The big difference was that the CPS supported Scottish independence. This means they believed Scotland should be an independent country, separate from the United Kingdom.
The CPS also supported groups that worked for independence, like the Scottish Independence Convention (SIC). In 2007, the CPS released a special booklet. It was called Perspectives for Scottish Independence. This booklet shared ideas from people like Eric Canning, Maggie Chetty, and Rhona Fleming.
In 2008, the CPS held a meeting. The goal was to bring together different left-wing groups in Scotland. They wanted to agree on shared ideas about Scottish independence.
Eric Canning, who was the national secretary of the CPS, passed away in December 2017. The Scottish Socialist Party shared their respect for him. They mentioned his strong dedication to the ideas of socialism and independence.
