Scottish Party facts for kids

The Scottish (Self-Government) Party was a political party in Scotland. It was formed in 1932 by people who wanted Scotland to have more control over its own affairs. These people were part of the Unionist Party but believed Scotland should have its own parliament. They wanted Scotland to be a "Dominion" within the British Empire. This meant Scotland would be like countries such as Canada or Australia, with its own government but still connected to the British Empire.

The Scottish Party was different from another group called the National Party of Scotland (NPS). The Scottish Party felt the NPS was unclear about the British Empire. They also disagreed with the NPS's more "left-of-centre" (meaning more focused on social equality and government involvement) ideas.

How the Party Started

The Scottish Party began in November 1932. It was formed by members who broke away from the Unionist Party in Glasgow. These members had created a special group called the 'Imperial Committee' in June 1932. This committee wanted Scotland to have more self-rule, also known as Home Rule.

The committee held meetings and shared their ideas. They wrote a plan that suggested a new "Imperial Parliament" for the whole British Empire. They also wanted separate parliaments for Scotland, England, and Wales. The main Unionist Party leaders did not like these ideas. They were against a Scottish Parliament.

John Kevan McDowall, a lawyer from Glasgow, led the committee. The Glasgow Unionist Association accused him of being disloyal. McDowall, Andrew Dewar Gibb, and about 30 other people who supported Home Rule left the Unionist Party. They then created the Scottish Party.

What the Party Did

McDowall and Gibb gained support from important people. These included James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose, who became the party's chairman. They also got help from Sir Alexander MacEwen. Both were strong supporters of moderate Home Rule for Scotland.

The Scottish Party was mostly made up of former Unionist and Liberal members. These included landowners (called "lairds"), local leaders (called "provosts"), and business people. Some well-known figures in Scotland also joined, like John Bannerman.

The party acted more like a "think tank" than a typical political party. A think tank is a group that does research and suggests ideas. The Scottish Party had fewer than 1,000 members. They only put forward one candidate for an election. This was Sir Alexander MacEwen in the 1933 Kilmarnock by-election. He was supported by the National Party of Scotland (NPS) but finished fourth in the vote.

Joining Forces

By 1933, the Scottish Party was talking with John MacCormick. He was the secretary of the NPS. MacCormick wanted the two parties to merge. This would bring together different parts of the Scottish independence movement. Gibb was very keen on the idea of merging. However, McDowall was not so sure at first. In 1934, the NPS and the Scottish Party officially joined together. They formed a new party called the Scottish National Party.