Scottish Workers Republican Party

The Scottish Workers Republican Party (SWRP) were formed by the Marxist activist John Maclean MA (1879-1923) in the 1910s. They advocated the political doctrine of communism, whilst also supporting Scottish independence. This dual communist-nationalist doctrine was heavily influenced by the thinking of James Connolly who similarly believed in socialism and independence for Ireland and had set up his Irish Republican Socialist Party in 1896.

MacLean argued that the break-up of the British state and empire would aid the cause of world-wide socialism and thus he supported the idea of an independent Scotland. This inherent nationalism alientated the SWRP from the mainstream British left though.

The SWRP carried on its political activity for some time after the death of MacLean in 1923 but never made any real impact politically.