Political Activism
He is a long-time campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis, and unsuccessfully tried to open a "hash cafe" in Edinburgh. In 1997 Williamson went on a "National Change The Drug Laws" tour with former cannabis smuggler Howard Marks. However, as a previously disciplined member of the Revolutionary Socialist League/Militant Tendency in its period of entryism, he opposed any legalisation of drugs.
In 1999 Williamson stood as an SSP candidate in the first ever elections to the Scottish Parliament in the Edinburgh Central constituency. In 2001 he stood again for the SSP in Edinburgh Central in the Westminster General Election.
In 2003 Williamson became the first person to be physically ejected by the police from the Scottish Parliament when he made an anti-war protest wearing a George Bush mask. He is strong supporter of Scottish independence and Independence First.
In August 2006, in the aftermath of Tommy Sheridan's libel case against the News of the World, Williamson parted company with the Scottish Socialist Party. A lengthy letter of resignation was published online which contained a highly critical attack on Tommy Sheridan, as well as citing political differences with the direction the SSP was going in.
In November 2007, Williamson signalled a clear break with party politics and his previous Marxian background in an article entitled Scotland's Libertarian Left which was originally published in Bella Caledonia - a free newspaper Williamson currently co-edits (with Mike Small) aimed at stimulating discussion around left libertarian and Scottish republican ideas.
Read more about this topic: Kevin Williamson (politician)
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“I began to expand my personal service in the church, and to search more diligently for a closer relationship with God among my different business, professional and political interests.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)