A history of the Scottish national party 1945-1967

• Main Author: Somerville, Paula
• Published: University of Strathclyde 2008
• Subjects: 324.241098309411
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.501678

The Scottish National Party was established in 1934 with the primary aim of achieving self-government for Scotland. From 1945 until the 1960s, the Party achieved few successes and existed on the periphery of Scottish politics. With few members, poor organisation, suffering from a factious element and operating within a two-party political system, the SNP made little impact on the poHtical climate of Scotland. In the 1960s, however, the Party's fortunes transformed as it dramatically increased its membership, it underwent significant organisational improvements and it began making electoral inroads into Scottish politics. In 1967, the SNP's candidate, Winnie Ewing, won a landmark by-election victory in the Labour stronghold of Hamilton. The SNP's breakthrough in this period has reshaped the political map ot Scotland ever since.