Scottish Socialist Party (1932) facts for kids

The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) was a political group in Scotland. It was formed in 1932 by people who used to be part of the Independent Labour Party (ILP). These members wanted to stay connected to the main Labour Party. The SSP existed for about eight years before joining the Labour Party in 1940.

The Scottish Socialist Party: A Brief History

Why the Party Was Formed

In the early 1930s, many members of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) wanted to separate from the main Labour Party. This idea became very strong after the Labour Party decided not to support ILP candidates in the 1931 election.

However, some important Scottish ILP members disagreed with this separation. These included Patrick Dollan, who was the chairman of the Scottish ILP, and David Kirkwood, an MP. Another key person was former MP Tom Johnston.

In 1932, these members created the Scottish Independent Labour Party Affiliation Committee. They worked to keep the ILP connected to the Labour Party. But most ILP members did not agree with them. So, in August, Dollan, Kirkwood, and Johnston were asked to leave the ILP.

Early Days and Key People

After leaving the ILP, these members quickly formed the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) at the end of August 1932. The new party immediately joined the Labour Party.

The SSP quickly grew. At first, they said they had 1,000 members. By November, this number grew to 2,200. Before the split, the Scottish ILP had about 3,300 members.

Patrick Dollan became the first leader of the SSP. Andrew Gilzean was the vice-chair, and Arthur Brady was the secretary. Other important members included MP Neil Maclean and future MP Thomas Cook.

The SSP also took control of a newspaper called Forward. This newspaper used to belong to the Glasgow ILP. From 1934, Forward became the official newspaper of the SSP.

What the SSP Did

The SSP generally agreed with the policies of the ILP, except for the decision to separate from the Labour Party. They worked closely with other groups that supported the Labour Party.

In the 1935 United Kingdom general election, the SSP supported four candidates who ran for the Labour Party. None of these candidates won, but they all came in a close second place.

Views on War and Peace

The SSP had a strong group of members who believed in peace and were against war. In 1935, Patrick Dollan said the SSP was an "anti-war party."

However, the party always supported the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. They tried to convince the Labour Party to send weapons to help them.

When World War II began, the party faced a challenge. Many members were against Britain joining the war. But Patrick Dollan supported the efforts of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to get ready for war.

The Party Comes to an End

In 1940, a court case about money and property from the ILP branches was decided. The court ruled in favor of the ILP.

After this, the Scottish Socialist Party decided to close down. Its members then officially joined the Labour Party.

Election Results (1935)

The Scottish Socialist Party supported four Labour Party candidates in the 1935 United Kingdom general election. All of them came in second place in their areas.