Communist Party of Scotland

Communist Party of Scotland Pàrtaidh Co-Mhaoineach na h-Alba
National Secretary	Eric Canning
Founded	1991
Headquarters	Glasgow
Ideology	Communism, Marxism–Leninism, Scottish independence
Political position	Far-left
Politics of Scotland Political parties Elections

The Communist Party of Scotland (CPS; Pàrtaidh Co-Mhaoineach na h-Alba) was established in 1991 when the Communist Party of Great Britain was disbanded and re-formed as the Democratic Left think-tank. Many Scottish Communists disagreed with this decision and instead set up the CPS, with its headquarters in Partick, Glasgow. Some 280 former members of the CPGB in Scotland joined the new party including Mick McGahey, who had been a leading member of the National Union of Mineworkers in the 1970s and 1980s. Former CPGB General Secretary Gordon McLennan was also associated with the party.

The current national secretary of the CPS is Eric Canning. The CPS has fought no parliamentary elections. The CPS does not feature much on the Scottish political landscape, but they do continue to sponsor one local councillor, William Clarke, in Fife.

They support Scottish independence and Eric Canning is honorary convener of the Independence First movement, which is campaigning for a referendum on Scottish independence.

Articles

• Perspectives for Scotland - critical review of a 2007 CPS pamphlet from the London New Worker
• CPS support for Scottish independence - Support for this statement includes Eric Canning
• Voices for Scottish independence critical review of a CPS report of a conference held in 2008 from the London New Worker