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
Party political offices
Preceded by
Douglas Young
National Chairman (Leader) of the Scottish National Party
1945–1947
Succeeded by
Robert McIntyre