Progressive Party (Scotland)

Anti-Labour party municipal political organisation

For the suggestion to rename the Scottish Conservative Party to Scottish Progressives, see 2011 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election.

Progressive Party

Founded| Early 20th century
Dissolved| Late 1970s
Ideology| Anti-Labour co-operation[1]
Localism
Economic liberalism

* Politics of Scotland
* Political parties
* Elections

The Progressive Party was a municipal political organisation that operated in several Scottish cities and towns in the 20th century. It was based on tacit anti-Labour co-operation between the Unionist Party, Scottish Liberals and independents.

## Origins

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National political parties were rarely active in local politics but the rise of the Labour Party led to a process of party politicisation of local government. However, at first Labour were opposed by the Progressives before other national political parties entered local government elections on a significant scale.

The Progressives formed as a loose alliance of unofficial Liberals, Unionists and independents. Apart from a distinct focus on their urban localities the other essence of the Progressive groupings was opposition to Labour policies and control, plus a desire to avoid splitting the anti-Labour vote.

## History

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Progressive groupings formed in Edinburgh Corporation in 1928 and Glasgow Corporation in 1936[2] before spreading to other cities and towns. Their members were mainly drawn from local middle-class businessmen opposed to the introduction of what they saw as municipal socialism and Labour control. They dominated Scottish local politics for almost 50 years and as late as 1972 Edinburgh Corporation was made up of 21 Progressives, nine Conservatives, 33 Labour and five Liberals.

However, by the end of the 1970s they had completely disappeared as the entry of Scottish National Party, Liberal and Conservative candidates into local politics supplanted their role of opposing Labour.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Graham Walker, Tom Gallagher, ed. (1990). Sermons and Battle Hymns: Protestant Popular Culture in Modern Scotland. Edinburgh University Press. p. 172.[ISBN missing]
2. ^ Smyth, James (2003). "Resisting Labour: Unionists, Liberals and Moderates in Glasgow between the wars" (PDF). The Historical Journal. 46 (2). Cambridge University Press: 398. doi:10.1017/s0018246x0300298x. hdl:1893/291. S2CID 11326302.
3. ^ Kerevan, George (8 June 2001). "Election 2001 The rise and fall of Scots Tories". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2013.

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Defunct political parties in Scotland

Historic|

* Kirk Party
* Squadrone Volante

19th Century|

* Crofters Party
* Highland Land League
* Scottish Labour Party (1888)
* Scottish Land Restoration League
* Scottish Liberal Party
* Scottish Socialist Federation
* Scottish United Trades Councils Labour Party
* Scottish Workers' Representation Committee

20th Century|

* Communist Bulletin Group
* Communist Party of Scotland
* Fife Socialist League
* Highland Land League (1909)
* Labour Party of Scotland
* Moderates
* National Party of Scotland
* Orkney and Shetland Movement
* Progressives
* Protestant Action Society
* Scottish Democratic Fascist Party
* Scottish Labour Party (1976)
* Scottish Militant Labour
* Scottish Party
* Scottish Prohibition Party
* Scottish Protestant League
* Scottish Socialist Party (1932)
* Shetland Movement
* Unionist Party
* United Socialist Movement
* Workers Party of Scotland

21st Century|

* Borders Party
* Britannica Party
* East Dunbartonshire Independent Alliance
* East Kilbride Alliance
* Fishing Party
* Highlands and Islands Alliance
* RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance
* Scottish Jacobite Party
* Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
* Scottish Voice
* Solidarity

* Politics of Scotland
* Current political parties in Scotland
* Elections in Scotland
* List of political parties by country

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