The national Socialist Labour Party was founded in 1903 after a split of (mainly) Scottish members from the Marxist Social Democratic Federation (SDF). A similar split occurred in England as well, resulting in the formation of the Socialist Labour Party of Great Britain. The Scottish party was heavily influenced by the industrial unionism of the Socialist Labor Party of America and was led by socialists in Glasgow such as: Tom Bell, Arthur McManus and Neil McLean.
Although speakers such as national party Secretary Neil McLean visited Aberdeen in 1907, and there is notice of a meeting under the auspices of the party addressed by Aberdeen socialist A.S. Wheeler in 1913, it is not clear if a branch was active at that time. Yet a branch was officially founded in September 1917 when a meeting was called with a guest speaker from the national party in Glasgow (it was to be either Tom Bell or Arthur McManus). Local individuals involved included William Morrison and James W. Gordon (who were former members of the Northern Socialist Society and later to be foundation members of the Aberdeen Communist Party). Another member was William Leslie who was also later to become part of the Aberdeen Communist group. The Party met at the Socialist Hall, Mealmarket Street, where the Northern Society previously used to hold their meetings.
Following revolution in Russia there were moves to work with the British Socialist Party and other groups to form a British Communist Party. Some members did join the new Communist Party but the national party did not and continued along its own path for a number of years.
Related entries: Aberdeen Communist Party, Social Democratic Federation and William Leslie.
References: Aberdeen Daily Journal, ‘Aberdeen Was More Red Than Glasgow: The Impact of the First World War and the Russian Revolution beyond Red Clydeside’ (William Kenefick, in Scotland and the Slavs: Cultures in Contact: 1500 – 2000 (Mark Cornwall & Murray Frames (eds.), Newtonville, 2001), Red Scotland: The Rise and Fall of the Radical Left c.1872 – 1932 (William Kenefick, Edinburgh University Press, 2007), The Aberdeen Trades Council and Politics 1900-1939 (C. W. M. Phipps, University of Aberdeen thesis, 1980) and Remembering the Spanish Civil War 1936 – 1939 (chapter ‘The Story of Aberdeen’s Communists’ by Bob Cooney, in ed. George Scott, Aberdeen Trades Council, 1996).
Sources: unknown.
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