Isobel Lindsay facts for kids

Isobel Lindsay (born 1943) is a well-known Scottish activist. She used to teach sociology at a university. She is famous for supporting Scottish independence. She also worked hard for peace.

Early Life and Education

Isobel was born in Hamilton, Scotland. She went to Hamilton Academy for school. Later, she studied at the University of Glasgow. After her studies, she worked at Strathclyde University. She started as a researcher. Then she became a sociology lecturer.

Fighting for Peace

In 1960, Isobel joined a group called the Committee of 100. This group was against war. Through this group, she met Tom McAlpine. They got married. Their son is Robin McAlpine. Isobel also became active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). She worked as its vice-chair in the 2000s.

Political Journey

Isobel joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) when she was young. She first tried to become a Member of Parliament in Motherwell. This was during the 1970 general election. She was not successful that time. In the same year, she joined the SNP's main committee.

Party Leadership Roles

In 1972, Isobel was chosen as a Vice Chair of the SNP. At first, she was in charge of publicity. Later, she became the Vice Chair for party policy. She stayed on the SNP's main committee until 1989.

Standing for Election

She tried again to be elected in 1978. This was for the 1978 Berwick and East Lothian by-election. This election was a bit tricky. The local SNP group had already picked someone else. Party rules said that person should step aside for a special election. He did not want to at first. Isobel only agreed to stand with some hesitation. She received 8.8 percent of the votes. She did not win the election.

Later Political Work

Isobel was known for her left-wing views within the SNP. However, she did not join a specific group called the 79 Group. In 1989, she left the SNP. She was the only committee member to support the party joining the Scottish Constitutional Convention. This group worked towards a Scottish Parliament. She became the last leader of the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly. This campaign helped achieve the goal of a Scottish Parliament. In 1994, she joined the Labour Party. She tried to stand for them in the 1999 Scottish Parliament election. However, the party leaders did not approve her.

Continued Activism

Isobel Lindsay continued her work for peace and social justice. Besides her role in CND, she also served on the board of the Scottish Left Review. She was also a prominent member of the National Collective. This group supported Scottish independence through arts and culture.