Bruce Watson (politician)

Bruce Watson (Gaelic: Bruis Mac Uait); was a Scottish nationalist politician.

By profession a Professor of organic chemistry,^[1] Watson became active in the Scottish National Party (SNP). In 1945, the SNP Chairman Douglas Young resigned after the party banned members from also holding membership of British political parties.^[2] Watson held that attempting to win self-government through British parties was a waste of time,^[3] and took up the vacant party chairmanship without facing a challenge.^[2]

In 1946, Watson chaired a large conference in Perth which demanded self-government for Scotland.^[4] In 1947, he stood down from the Chairmanship of the SNP in order that he could be succeeded by Robert McIntyre, a former Member of Parliament and the best-known figure in the party.^[2]

Based in Aberdeen, Watson remained active in the SNP into the 1960s.^[5]

References

1. ^ Peter Lynch, SNP: the history of the Scottish National Party, p.4
2. ^ ^{a b c} James Halliday, "Challenging Convenors", Scots Independent, 26 September 2003
3. ^ Jim Lynch, Strategies for Self-government ISBN 0748661131
4. ^ "Scottish National Party Demands Self Government", St. Petersburg Times, 29 May 1946
5. ^ Jim Lynch, "Correction", Scots Independent, 9 November 2001