Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association
| File:GUSNA Logo.png | |
| Formation | 1927 |
|---|---|
|
President
|
Morgan Horn |
|
Secretary
|
John Combe |
|
Past President
|
Roddy Cairns |
|
Honorary President
|
Ian Hamilton |
The Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association (GUSNA) is a student organisation formed in 1927 at the University of Glasgow which supports Scottish independence.
History
GUSNA is important historically as it predated many pro-independence organisations including the Scottish National Party itself. It is the forerunner of the National Party of Scotland (NPS) which is itself a forerunner of the modern Scottish National Party.[1] One prime mover in the formation of GUSNA was John MacCormick who had previously been involved in the Glasgow University Labour Club.[2]
GUSNA was thrown into prominence in the early 1950s when a group of its members (including Ian Hamilton who would later become a well known Queen's Counsel) took the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950. This caused a huge scandal amongst the British establishment and it wasn't until April 1951 that the stone was found by the authorities.[3][4][5]
GUSNA has, almost since its inception, tried to play an active part in the life of Glasgow University with its members regularly being involved in the Students' Representative Council as well as regularly nominating candidates for the election of the Rectorship of the university. Notable GUSNA Rectorial candidates of the past have included Robert Cunninghame-Graham and John MacCormick (who with Ian Hamilton as his campaign manager was successful in being elected). More recent candidates have been Ian Hamilton, Alasdair Gray and Alan Bissett. GUSNA is affiliated to SNP Students, the student wing of the Scottish National Party, and played a leading role in its formation in the 1960s.
Prominent former members of GUSNA have included Winnie Ewing, Nicola Sturgeon MSP and Neil MacCormick (son of John MacCormick).[6] The current president is Morgan Horn.
Executive Committee
- President: Morgan Horn
- Vice President: Justine McCluskey
- Secretary: Conor Higgins
- Treasurer: David Buckley
- Campaigns Officer: Fraser Johnson
- Equalities Officer: Beth Malcolm
- Past President: Roddy Cairns
Notable Members
- Alasdair Allan MSP: Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Na h-Eileanan an Iar
- Angela Constance MSP: Minister for Youth Employment and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Almond Valley
- Winnie Ewing: Former President of the Scottish National Party and winner of the 1967 Hamilton by-election
- Ian Hamilton QC: Advocate and one of the students involved in the removal of the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in 1950
- Jamie Hepburn MSP: Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
- Neil MacCormick: Former Regius Chair of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh and Member of the European Parliament
- Derek Mackay MSP: Minister for Local Government and Planning and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West
- Nicola Sturgeon MSP: First Minister of Scotland and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Southside
See also
References
- ↑ Archives Hub: Collection of material relating to the Scottish National Party
- ↑ TheGlasgowStory: John M. MacCormick
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- ↑ Media Releases - University of Aberdeen
