Organisation of Scottish Labour

The Organisation of Scottish Labour is a body established under the national rules of the UK Labour Party.

Timeline

Origins and evolution of Scottish Labour

  • In August 1888, after contesting the Mid Lanarkshire by-election, Keir Hardie co-founded with Liberal MP Robert Cunninghame-Graham the Scottish Labour Party (1888) with the support of the Scottish Miners' Federation, local trade unions, the Dundee Radical Association, the Scottish Home Rule Association, Crofters Party MPs, and the Scottish Land Restoration League.
  • In December 1888, the Scottish Socialist Federation (SSF) was formed by members of the Social Democratic Federation.
  • In August 1891, the Scottish United Trades Councils Labour Party (SUTCLP) was formed.
  • In July 1892 general election, the SUTCLP gained support from the SSF.
  • In January 1893, Keir Hardie and others formed the Independent Labour Party (ILP).
  • In March 1893, the SUTCLP dissolved, advising members to join the ILP.
  • In 1893, the Scottish Socialist Federation affiliated with the ILP.
  • In 1894, the Scottish Labour Party of 1888 had by then made little impact and dissolved itself into the ILP.
  • In March 1897, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) was formed in Glasgow, as a result of a political dispute with the TUC regarding political representation for the Labour movement.
  • In 1899, the STUC with the ILP's Scottish branch formed the parliamentary campaign group Scottish Workers' Representation Committee (SWRC)
  • In 1900, the ILP played a central role in the formation of the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) which was created by ILP Chairman Hardie's motion to create a single Labour parliamentary body that was passed at a special conference organised by the TUC. ILP nominee Ramsay MacDonald was elected as Secretary of the LRC.
  • In 1906, the LRC is renamed the Labour Party, with the ILP becoming a Labour party affiliate and providing much of its activist base.
  • In 1909, the SWRC was dissolved and merged with the Labour Party.
  • In 1915, a subordinate Scottish Advisory Council (SAC) was formed by the Labour Party.
  • In 1918, Scotland was formalised a "region" in the Labour party constitution and the SAC was renamed as the Scottish Council of the Labour Party
  • In 1994, the Scottish Council of the Labour Party was renamed the Scottish Labour Party.
  • In 2011, the Scottish Labour Party carried out a review of its organisation and elected its first ever overall leader (Johann Lamont).

Structure
  • UK Labour Party Head Office, London
    • UK Labour Leader's Office
  • UK National Executive Committee
    • Scottish Labour Party Head Office, Glasgow
      • Scottish Labour Leader's Office
      • Scottish Executive Committee
        • Affiliated STUC trade unions, socialist societies and the Co-operative Party
        • Scottish Policy Forum
          • Policy commissions & local policy forums
        • Scottish Labour Conference
      • Scottish Labour Press Office
      • Labour Support Unit, Scottish Parliament
    • Constituency Labour Parties (CLP)
      • Branch Labour Parties (BLP)

Scottish Executive Committee

The Scottish Executive Committee is the governing body of the Scottish Labour Party, responsible for administrative matters and strategic policy direction. The SEC officially meets every second month, with much of day-to-day party business and operations undertaken in groups and commissions. The SEC has three different membership sections – Constituency Labour Party (CLP) members, elected members and trade unions and affiliates. It is further split into the local government sub-committee and the constitution, fundraising and campaigns working groups.

Membership as of 2019:[1]

Office Bearers

Elected Members

Constituency Labour Party members

Trade Union Section

Scottish Labour Women’s Committee

  • Lorna Robertson
  • Monique McAdams

Co-operative Party & Socialist Societies

  • Ian Miller
  • Jane Prinsley

Scottish Young Labour

  • Catherine Vallis
  • Meg Whitelaw

Chairs of Scottish Labour
Chair Vice-chair
2002 Carol Wright Richard Leonard
2003 Carol Wright Pat Devine
2004 Pat Devine Sandra Macdonald
2005 Sandra Macdonald Karie Murphy
2006 Karie Murphy Stuart Clark
2007 Stuart Clark Dave Watson
2008 Dave Watson Claudia Beamish
2009 Claudia Beamish Philomena Muggins
2010 Philomena Muggins Victoria Jamieson
2011–12 Victoria Jamieson Jackson Cullinane
2013 Jackson Cullinane Jamie Glackin
2014–16 Jamie Glackin Jacqueline Martin
2017 Linda Stewart Kevin Lindsay
2018 Linda Stewart Cathy Peattie
2019 Cathy Peattie Cara Hilton
2020 Cara Hilton

Scottish Policy Forum

The Scottish Policy Forum (SPF) is a body of the Scottish Labour Party responsible for developing a rolling policy programme on devolved matters.[2] The Scottish Annual Conference approves policies of the SPF programme every year with the Scottish Executive Committee (in conjunction with a committee from the Scottish Parliament Labour Group) deciding which items of the programme are to be incorporated in Labour's manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections. The SPF policy-making process is led by the 80 members elected from all sections of the party. The SPF establishes policy commissions to draw together policy discussion documents for consultation over three stages. The SPF is subordinate and feeds reports to the National Policy Forum.

General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party

The General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, subordinate to the General Secretary of the Labour Party, is the administrative head and the most senior permanent staff member of the Scottish Labour Party. The General Secretary is responsible for running the party's organisation: legal affairs, staff management, campaigns, conferences, and liaising with the UK party. They also act as the Registered Treasurer, responsible for the party's financial accounts.

General Secretary Notes
1914–1931 Ben Shaw
1932–1939 Arthur Woodburn
1939–1951 John Taylor
1951–1977 Willie Marshall
1977–1988 Helen Liddell[3]
1988–1992 Murray Elder[4]
1992–1998 Jack McConnell[5][6][7] Left role in 1998 to work for 9 months at lobbying firm Public Affairs Europe Ltd, owned by Beattie Media and Maclay Murray & Spens[8]
In 1999, elected as Motherwell and Wishaw MSP and became First Minister of Scotland in 2001
Elevated to House of Lords as Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale in 2010[9]
1998–1999 Alex Rowley[10][11][12][13] Sacked as general secretary after setting out proposals for giving Scottish Labour more freedom from London control[14]
Went on to become a Fife councillor, Leader of Fife Council, and MSP for Cowdenbeath
Elected Scottish Labour deputy leader in 2014 however stood down in 2017 following allegations of misconduct from a former partner
1999–2008 Lesley Quinn[15] Joined the Labour Party as a 16-year-old junior shorthand typist[16][17]
As assistant general secretary, became acting general secretary in June 1999 to coordinate 1999 European election campaign[18]
Formally appointed as general secretary in November 1999
Stood down at 2008 Scottish Labour conference in Aviemore in March
2008–2012 Colin Smyth Dumfries and Galloway councillor for Nith Ward[19]
Elected as a regional member for South Scotland at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election
2012–2013 Brian Roy (acting)
2013–2014 Ian Price
2014 Fiona Stanton (acting)
2014–2019 Brian Roy[20]
2019–2020 Lorna Finlayson (interim)
2020–present Michael Sharpe

Parliamentary representation

Leader's Office

  • Richard Leonard MSP − Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
  • Lesley Brennan − Chief of staff
  • Conrad Landin − Director of communications[21]
  • Joe Cullinane − Head of campaigns and party engagement [22]
  • Craig Miller − Parliamentary researcher[23]

Shadow Cabinet

  • Richard Leonard MSP − Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Spokesperson for Finance, Economy and Fair Work
  • Jackie Baillie MSP − Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
  • Ian Murray MP − Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Rhoda Grant MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Jobs and Fair Work
  • James Kelly MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice
  • Alex Rowley MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Brexit and Constitutional Relations
  • Iain Gray MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Skills and Science
  • Monica Lennon MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport
  • Claudia Beamish MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
  • David Stewart MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Eradication of Poverty and Inequality
  • Elaine Smith MSP − Parliamentary Business Manager
  • Alex Rowley MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities
  • Claire Baker MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
  • Colin Smyth MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity
  • Sarah Boyack MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government
  • Pauline McNeill MSP − Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Equalities

Shadow Ministers

  • Mary Fee MSP − Shadow Minister for Education, Health and Equalities
  • Lewis Macdonald MSP − Shadow Minister for Energy

Backbenchers

Staff
  • Press Office[24]
    • Media Monitoring Unit[25]
    • Rebuttal Unit
    • Regional press teams
  • Research Unit (policy and constitutional issues)
  • Administrative support
  • Scottish Parliamentary Labour Support Unit (formerly SPLP Resource Unit)[26]
Director of Communications Notes
1998 Paul McKinney[27][28] April 1998 to 21 May 1998
Headhunted by Donald Dewar and Gordon Brown[29]
Ran Labour's Scottish press campaign in the 1992 general election
Four years as an aide/researcher to Gordon Brown, alongside Pat McFadden and David Miliband
Head of STV news production until April 1998[30] Returned to STV from 1998 until 2004
Worked for Oxfam from 2004 until 2006, when he joined Al Jazeera
1998−1999 Lorraine Davidson[31] July 1998 to July 1999
2000−2002 John Scott[32] From February 2000
2001–2005 Colin Edgar[33][34]
2006–2007 Steven Lawther[35]
2007 Brian Lironi[36]
2007 Matthew Marr[37]
2007 Gavin Yates[38]
2007−2008 Tony McElroy[39][40][41][42]
2008 Rami Okasha
2019 Conrad Landin
Secretary of State for Scotland Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
1997–1999 Donald Dewar Henry McLeish
Brian Wilson
Helen Liddell
1999–2001 Dr John Reid Brian Wilson
2001–2003 Helen Liddell George Foulkes
Anne McGuire
2003–2006 Alistair Darling Anne McGuire
David Cairns
2006–2007 Douglas Alexander David Cairns
2007–2008 Des Browne David Cairns
2008–2010 Jim Murphy Ann McKechin

Special Advisers to Donald Dewar

As Secretary of State for Scotland (1997–1999):[43]

As First Minister (1999–2000):[45]

  • John Rafferty – Chief of staff[46][47]
  • Philip Chalmers – Head of the Scottish Executive's strategic communications unit [48] (previously director of polling and marketing for the Scottish Labour Party)
  • David Whitton
  • Brian Fitzpatrick
  • John MacLaren
  • Professor Donald Maclennan
  • Neil Gillam
  • Chris Winslow

Scottish Parliament elections

1999[49][50][51][52][53][54][55]

  • Matthew Taylor – Election strategist
  • Douglas Alexander – Election coordinator
  • Donald Dewar – Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Gordon Brown – Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • Brian Wilson – Minister of State for Scotland
  • John Reid – Minister of State for Transport
  • Alex Rowley – General Secretary
  • Lesley Quinn – Assistant General Secretary
  • Paul McKinney – Head of communications
  • David Whitton – Media adviser to Donald Dewar
  • Pat McFadden – Policy adviser to Donald Dewar
  • John Rowan – Scottish Telephone Bank Organiser[56]
  • Hilary Perrin – Tours
  • Bridget Sweeny – Visits
  • Ian Austin – Deputy director of communications[57][58]
  • Ed Miliband – Rebuttal
  • John Rafferty – Chief of staff to Donald Dewar
  • Ann-Marie Whyte – Administration and office manager
  • Kevin Reid and Suzanne Hilliard – Media monitoring
  • Chris Winslow – Campaigner and parliamentary researcher to John Maxton MP
  • Willie Sullivan – Development officer

2003

2007

2011[60][61]

  • Iain Gray MSP – Leader
  • Simon Pia – Spokesperson
  • Michael Marra – Speechwriter
  • John Park MSP – Campaign coordinator
  • Tom Greatrex MP – Campaign strategist
  • Kenny Young – Press Officer
  • Colin Smyth – General Secretary
  • Rami Okasha – Head of communications
  • Sarah Metcalfe – Head of research
  • Adele Black – Diary secretary
  • Pat Gordon – Assistant and election agent

2016

Party finance

Donors

2010 general election expenditure: £968,000[62]

YearIncomeExpenditure
2010706,738599,951
2009387,722307,925
2008396,159455,699
20071,029,358940,851
2006396,777471,698
2005523,523437,219
2004318,609305,120
2003858,547920,233
2002353,342320,669
gollark: This is just an indirected way to have a CPU.
gollark: Practically speaking you probably want tasks like "text editor" and "messaging program".
gollark: FPGAs are unsuited for the sort of general purpose responding-to-events-and-doing-some-wide-range-of-things tasks which practical computer things involve.
gollark: CPUs are mostly fine. Maybe with FPGAs onboard for accelerating some tasks, like how we use GPUs.
gollark: Not everything can be redone in the RAM-limited combinatorial-logicky way.

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Books
  • Hassan, Gerry (2004) (ed.) The Scottish Labour Party. Edinburgh University Press.
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