Dave Leadbetter

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David "Dave" Leadbetter (19 November 1934 - 15 March 2006), was a figure in Scottish politics.

Born in South Battersea, London, England, Dave embraced Scottish culture enthusiastically when attending the University of Stirling between 1969 and 1972.

After taking law at the University of Newcastle, Dave became politically active in the Scottish republican demonstrations at 'Red Stirling', against the Queen's visit there.

From student political activities he joined the International Marxist Group and the John MacLean Society. Like his hero, John MacLean, he was well educated but spurned conventional careers and disliked career politics.

Dave was a founder member of the cross party Scottish Republican Socialist Clubs, with John Maclean’s daughter, Nan Milton, Hugh MacDiarmid, Morris Blytheman and others. The Republican Clubs became the Scottish Republican Socialist Party in 1982 and reverted to a cross-party Scottish Republican Socialist Movement to join the newly formed Scottish Socialist Party in 1998, although Dave chose not to join the SSP.

Dave was a passionate believer in every stage towards his final goal of a Scottish workers republic and supported the campaign for a Scottish Convention from the early 70s.

Dave Leadbetter lived in Glen Etive and ran a local radical campaigning paper, the Lochaber Free Press, which successfully opposed nuclear dumping in Glen Etive.