The development of the Labour Party in Scotland

Labour became the most popular political party in Scotland in 1923 with winning 29 seats

This shows increased electoral success for Labour in Scottish elections post-war as a result of the experience of the war, as Labour politicians attempted to protect the working class against unpopular laws, like the Munitions Act, thus gaining Scottish people’s votes

The Labour Party formed the UK government in 1924, including John Wheatly as a minister

This shows that the experience of the war persuaded more people that Labour would best represent the Scottish working class and so a large number of people voted for them in the 1924 election

Red Clydeside female leaders became more powerful, like Mary Barbour, as she gained a seat on the Glasgow Council in 1920

This shows that the experience of the war and the success of the Red Clydeside events, such as the rent strikes, increasing the popularity of female leaders, thus continuing to support them as they got more political power

The Independent Labour Party (ILP) membership trebled from 3,000 to 9,000 during the war

This shows that support was growing in Scotland for the Labour Party because the experience of the war persuaded the Scottish working class that Labour would do the most to protect them as they combatted unpopular policies, like dilution, and so people joined the party during the war

Labour politicians like David Kirkwood, James Maxton, and Manny Shinwell, became MPs in the 1920s

This shoes that the experience of the war and Red Clydeside had increased the popularly of Scottish Labour Politicians that were invoked in protests and so they were able to gain more political power post-war as people trusted them