The Scottish National Congress was a small Scottish nationalist campaign group, focussed on direct action.
The group was founded in 1950 by Roland Muirhead and supporters including Oliver Brown, who became its first president. [1] Other leading members included Robert B. Wilkie, Archie Lamont, David Murray, Kenneth McLaren and Matthew Somerville. [2]
Although Muirhead was already 82, he was prominent in the Scottish nationalist movement as President of the Scottish National Party, [1] remaining a party member while creating his own opposing organisation. [3] The new group launched its own journal, Forward Scotland, and adopted a socialist perspective, with loose links to the Independent Labour Party, [1] [3] calling for direct action rather than standing in elections. [4] However, Brown resigned in 1954, disapproving of its submission to the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs, [5] and it increasingly came to focus on the question of a Scottish constitution. [1] Other activities included a campaign advocating the purchase of Scottish products. [5]
In 1962, the Congress launched the Scottish Provisional Constituent Assembly, which published a proposed constitution in 1964, shortly before Muirhead's death. [1] The group dissolved shortly after. [6]
The Scottish National Congress was a small Scottish nationalist campaign group, focussed on direct action.
The group was founded in 1950 by Roland Muirhead and supporters including Oliver Brown, who became its first president. [1] Other leading members included Robert B. Wilkie, Archie Lamont, David Murray, Kenneth McLaren and Matthew Somerville. [2]
Although Muirhead was already 82, he was prominent in the Scottish nationalist movement as President of the Scottish National Party, [1] remaining a party member while creating his own opposing organisation. [3] The new group launched its own journal, Forward Scotland, and adopted a socialist perspective, with loose links to the Independent Labour Party, [1] [3] calling for direct action rather than standing in elections. [4] However, Brown resigned in 1954, disapproving of its submission to the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs, [5] and it increasingly came to focus on the question of a Scottish constitution. [1] Other activities included a campaign advocating the purchase of Scottish products. [5]
In 1962, the Congress launched the Scottish Provisional Constituent Assembly, which published a proposed constitution in 1964, shortly before Muirhead's death. [1] The group dissolved shortly after. [6]