Glasgow University Labour Club
Encyclopedia
Glasgow University Labour Club was formed in 1946, and has served as a training ground for a number of prominent Labour
politicians of the twentieth century. Membership is open to all matriculated students of the University.
The Labour Club runs weekly Pint and Politics events as well as organising guest lectures. The Club was recently involved in protests at a pro-life
talk held in the Glasgow University Union
featuring Ann Widdecombe
and Lord Alton of Liverpool
, and joined the Take Back The Night march against violence against women. It has also welcomed various guest speakers, including former junior Northern Ireland minister
Adam Ingram
, whose talk was entitled,"What can Baghdad learn from Belfast?", and a talk on the British monarchy
from Hazel Blears
, the former Communities Secretary
, and Professor Adam Tomkins
, a member of anti-monarchy group Republic
and an academic in the School of Law
. The Club also helps with Labour Party election campaigning.
In the past, the Labour Club has put candidates forward in Rectorial elections at the University, although it did not do so at the 2008 or the 2011 election. Ross Kemp
, who was Rector from 1999-2001, was nominated by the Labour Club, but was forced to resign for unsatisfactory completion of his duties. The Club nominated Hortensia Allende
, widow of former Marxist President of Chile
Salvador Allende
, in 1977, however she lost to John L. Bell
, a student at the University at the time and Glasgow's only student rector.
The Labour Club is affiliated to Scottish Labour Students
(SLS), and to the national Labour Students
(NOLS) group. Labour Club members Margaret Curran
(1979), Sarah Boyack
(1984) and more recently Victoria Jamieson (2007) have served as Chair of SLS, while Boyack was Chair of NOLS shortly after being Chair of the Labour Club. Although NUS Scotland
has in the past been seen as a largely Labour-ite movement, the University of Glasgow is not affiliated to the organisation.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politicians of the twentieth century. Membership is open to all matriculated students of the University.
The Labour Club runs weekly Pint and Politics events as well as organising guest lectures. The Club was recently involved in protests at a pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
talk held in the Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885....
featuring Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe
Ann Noreen Widdecombe is a former British Conservative Party politician and has been a novelist since 2000. She is a Privy Councillor and was the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 1997 and for Maidstone and The Weald from 1997 to 2010. She was a social conservative and a member of...
and Lord Alton of Liverpool
David Alton, Baron Alton of Liverpool
David Patrick Paul Alton, Baron Alton of Liverpool is a British politician. He is a former Liberal Party and later Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament who now sits as cross bench member of the House of Lords. He was made a Life peer as Baron Alton of Liverpool, of Mossley Hill in the County of...
, and joined the Take Back The Night march against violence against women. It has also welcomed various guest speakers, including former junior Northern Ireland minister
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
Adam Ingram
Adam Ingram (Labour politician)
Adam Paterson Ingram is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow from 1987 to 2010.-Early life:...
, whose talk was entitled,"What can Baghdad learn from Belfast?", and a talk on the British monarchy
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
from Hazel Blears
Hazel Blears
Hazel Anne Blears is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Salford and Eccles since 2010 and was previously the MP for Salford since 1997...
, the former Communities Secretary
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is a Cabinet position heading the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government....
, and Professor Adam Tomkins
Adam Tomkins
Professor Adam Tomkins is a British legal scholar and John Millar Professor of Public Law at the School of Law of the University of Glasgow.Tomkins was educated at the University of East Anglia and the London School of Economics...
, a member of anti-monarchy group Republic
Republic (political organisation)
Republic is a British non-partisan republican pressure group advocating the replacement of the United Kingdom's monarchy with a democratically-elected head of state....
and an academic in the School of Law
University of Glasgow School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Glasgow provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Law, and awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws , Master of Laws , Master of Science , Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy , the degree of Doctor of Laws...
. The Club also helps with Labour Party election campaigning.
In the past, the Labour Club has put candidates forward in Rectorial elections at the University, although it did not do so at the 2008 or the 2011 election. Ross Kemp
Ross Kemp
Ross James Kemp is a BAFTA award-winning British actor, author and journalist, who rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders...
, who was Rector from 1999-2001, was nominated by the Labour Club, but was forced to resign for unsatisfactory completion of his duties. The Club nominated Hortensia Allende
Hortensia Bussi
thumb|Bussi in Brussels in 1984Mercedes Hortensia Bussi Soto de Allende was the widow of Chilean President Salvador Allende. She was married to him from 1940 until he was deposed and assassinated in 1973, serving as First Lady of Chile from 1970 to 1973...
, widow of former Marxist President of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
, in 1977, however she lost to John L. Bell
John L. Bell
John Lamberton Bell is a hymn-writer. A Church of Scotland minister, he is a member of the Iona Community, a broadcaster, and former student activist...
, a student at the University at the time and Glasgow's only student rector.
The Labour Club is affiliated to Scottish Labour Students
Scottish Labour Students
Scottish Labour Students , is a student society, affiliated to the Scottish Labour Party and forms an important part of the UK-wide organisation Labour Students....
(SLS), and to the national Labour Students
Labour Students
Labour Students is a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party.Membership comprises affiliated college and university clubs . Membership of Labour Students is through membership of a university or college Labour Club. Affiliation is open to any Labour Club generally supportive of...
(NOLS) group. Labour Club members Margaret Curran
Margaret Curran
Margaret Patricia Curran is a Scottish Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow East since 2010, and is currently Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland...
(1979), Sarah Boyack
Sarah Boyack
Sarah Boyack MSP is a Scottish Labour MSP for the Lothian region and formerly constituency MSP for Edinburgh Central in the Scottish Parliament....
(1984) and more recently Victoria Jamieson (2007) have served as Chair of SLS, while Boyack was Chair of NOLS shortly after being Chair of the Labour Club. Although NUS Scotland
National Union of Students Scotland
The National Union of Students Scotland is an autonomous body within the National Union of Students. It is the national representative body of 530,000 students studying in further and higher education in Scotland and was formed following the merger of NUS in Scotland with the Scottish Union of...
has in the past been seen as a largely Labour-ite movement, the University of Glasgow is not affiliated to the organisation.
2011/2012 Council
- Chair: Rae Cahill
- Vice-chair: Mark McGeoghegan
- Treasurer: Debbie White
- Secretary: Oliver Milne
- BME Officer: Sairah Tariq
- Womans Officer: Iona Baker
- LGBT Officer: John McKee
Notable members
- Wendy AlexanderWendy AlexanderWendy Alexander is a Scottish politician and the former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Paisley North. She held various Scottish Government cabinet posts and was the leader of the Labour Party group in the Scottish Parliament from 2007-2008...
: MSPMember of the Scottish ParliamentMember of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
for Paisley NorthPaisley North (Scottish Parliament constituency)Paisley North is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
, former Leader of the Scottish Labour PartyScottish Labour PartyThe Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... - Sarah BoyackSarah BoyackSarah Boyack MSP is a Scottish Labour MSP for the Lothian region and formerly constituency MSP for Edinburgh Central in the Scottish Parliament....
: MSP for Edinburgh CentralEdinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)Edinburgh Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
(Chair 1981-82) - Margaret Curran: MSP for Glasgow BailliestonGlasgow Baillieston (Scottish Parliament constituency)Glasgow Baillieston was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
and MP for Glasgow EastGlasgow East (UK Parliament constituency)Glasgow East is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It elects one Member of Parliament at least once every five years using the First-past-the-post system of voting....
(Secretary and Vice-chair) - Donald DewarDonald DewarDonald Campbell Dewar was a British politician who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament in Scotland from 1966-1970, and then again from 1978 until his death in 2000. He served in Tony Blair's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and was instrumental in the creation...
: former First Minister of ScotlandFirst Minister of ScotlandThe First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
(Chair 1961-62) - Johann Lamont: MSP for Glasgow PollokGlasgow Pollok (Scottish Parliament constituency)Glasgow Pollok is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
- Dickson MabonDickson MabonDr. Jesse Dickson "Dick" Mabon PC FRSA was a Scottish politician, physician and company director. He was the founder of The Manifesto Group of Labour MPs, an alliance of moderate MPs against the perceived leftward drift of the Labour Party in the 1970s. He was a Labour Co-operative MP until...
: former MP for GreenockGreenock (UK Parliament constituency)Greenock was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1974, when it was abolished and its area was merged into the new Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency.- Members of Parliament :...
(Chair 1948-50) - John MacCormickJohn MacCormickJohn MacDonald MacCormick was a lawyer and advocate of Home Rule in Scotland.-Early life:...
: founder of National Party of ScotlandNational Party of ScotlandThe National Party of Scotland was a political party in Scotland and a forerunner of the current Scottish National Party.The NPS was formed in 1928 after John MacCormick of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association called a meeting of all those favouring the establishment of a party...
, forerunner of Scottish National PartyScottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... - John Smith: Labour Party Leader 1992-94 (Chair 1960-61)
- Sir Robin WalesRobin WalesSir Robin Andrew Wales is a Labour Party politician and current Mayor of the London Borough of Newham- Early life :Wales was born in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland in 1955, and was educated at the University of Glasgow where he read Chemistry and was chair of the Glasgow University Labour Club...
: Mayor of NewhamLondon Borough of NewhamThe London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
(Chair 1975-76)