[4] Informal discussions preceding the founding of the FSL began in June 1956 among discontented Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) members in Fife, where the CP had a strong base in coal mining communities.
[2] Buoyed by the experience, the party decided to contest the 1959 general election in the West Fife constituency, which had returned Willie Gallacher as a Communist MP between 1935 and 1950.
At the same time we felt no political conflict in supporting Lawrence Daly on the hand, and on the other taking an active part in our own local constituencies on behalf of the official Labour candidates.
"[6] In February 1960, the FSL began publishing its own monthly journal, The Socialist, which accepted contributions from outwith the party, such as from Jean McCrindle and the New Left club at the nearby University of St Andrews.
[1] A month later, the party issued a policy statement stating its support for "unilateralism, public ownership, industrial democracy and self-government for Scotland in Scottish Affairs".