A History of the Scottish Labour Party

How has the Labour Party in Scotland influenced Scottish politics? The first single-volume history of the Labour Party in Scotland in more than 35 years Draws on neglected Scottish Labour Party archives at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow Assesses one of the most significant political movements and parties in Scottish history The Scottish Labour Party – or rather the Labour Party in Scotland – was the dominant political party in Scotland from the 1950s until the early twenty-first century. It won the largest share of the vote at every UK general election between 1964 and 2010. While its electoral fortunes declined with the rise of the Scottish National Party during the 2000s, the Party has remained a significant force in Scottish politics. This book provides an overview of the early decades of Scottish Labour politics, studying the party’s origins in late nineteenth-century working class politics and trade unionism. It also traces the party’s organisation, ideology, personnel and electoral performance over the past century. The book also analyses the party’s often surprisingly limited membership, its links with trade unions and the role of women’s organisations.