Salmond
part of Republican faction expelled from SNP in 1980s
The 79 Group wanted to
set up Scottish Socialist republic
Removal
of Queen as Scotland's head of state one of its founding principles
Fervent
Republicanism contrasts to his current support for the Queen
Alex Salmond was a leading member of a
Republican faction that was expelled from the Scottish National Party in the
1980s.
The 79 Group – named after the year in
which it was formed – wanted to set up a Scottish Socialist republic and spent
several years fighting for more radical policies within the SNP.
The removal of the Queen as Scotland’s
head of state was one of its founding principles.
The group even had links with Irish republican party Sinn Fein at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Mr Salmond was one of its three
spokesmen and took responsibility for publicity. He argued for greater
militancy among workers, and advocated direct action including civil
disobedience, according to his biographer, David Torrance.
‘I think Her Majesty the Queen, who has seen so many events in the course of her long reign, will be proud to be Queen of Scots as indeed we have been proud to have her as the monarch,’ the SNP leader said this week. But earlier this year, Mr MacAskill suggested there could be a referendum on scrapping the monarchy if Scots vote Yes.
He said in March: ‘We will inherit the
situation we have with the Queen as head of state in the ceremonial capacity
that she has. But it will be for the people of Scotland to decide.
‘If and when that would occur, if they
wished to have a referendum, and we would hope we would become the government
post-2016, it will be for whoever is in office then.’
The 79 Group, which was formally known
as the ‘Interim Committee of the 79 Group Socialist Society’, was formed after
the 1979 referendum asking Scots whether they wanted their own Scottish
Assembly with devolved powers.
No comments:
Post a Comment