Workers Party of Scotland

The Workers Party of Scotland or Workers Party of Scotland (Marxist-Leninist) was a small anti-revisionist Marxist-Leninist political party based in Scotland. They were formed in 1966 and were still active in 1988.

History

It was formed in October 1966, largely from the Committee to Defeat Revisionism, for Communist Unity.[1] It campaigned for Scottish independence. The party published two journals: the Scottish Vanguard and Red Clydesider until at least 1980.

The party stood in a few by-elections before Matt Lygate (a founder and leading member) along with three other members were convicted of armed robbery of the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1972 to raise party funds. Lygate received the longest prison sentence in Scottish legal history for a non-violent crime, receiving 27 years and serving 11. They were originally to be prosecuted for treason, the first case since John Maclean, but the charges were later dropped to bank robbery. After Lygate's release from prison, he appeared in Glasgow to announce the relaunch of the party, stating that there were now 30 to 40 members.[2] They produced leaflets against the poll tax.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Kemp, David (25 June 1968). "Communists who like S.N.P.". The Glasgow Herald. p. 10. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Laing, Allan (20 May 1986). "Legate returns to lead sons of the revolution". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  3. ↑ Shields, Tom (3 June 1988). "Phoenix rises". The Glasgow Herald. p. 12. Retrieved 13 July 2016.

External links

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