A History of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Parties

by David Torrance

Overview

The Scottish Unionist Party was the dominant party of inter-war Scotland, and while its electoral fortunes declined with the rise of the Labour and Scottish National parties during the 1960s, it remained a significant force in Scotland after its 1965 rebranding as the Scottish Conservative Party. More recently, it experienced a modest electoral revival under the leadership of Ruth Davidson (2011-19). Yet while aspects of the party’s history have received attention from historians and political scientists, it remains relatively neglected, with most publications either out of print or out of date. Strikingly, there exists no up-to-date, accessible single-volume history of the party from its origins in the late nineteenth century until present. Furthermore, a lot of Scottish Conservative history is coloured by mythology and political prejudice. This volume, the second in a series of Scottish party histories, plugs this significant gap in the literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399506427
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	01/16/2024
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Torrance is a constitutional specialist at the House of Commons Library. He is also the author or editor of more than 20 books on Scottish politics, history and biography, including five with EUP. He completed a PhD in history and political science at the University of the West of Scotland in 2017. His most recent book was The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain’s First Labour Government (Bloomsbury Continuum, 2024).

Table of Contents

Introduction 1 ‘A Distant and Whiggish Country’: 1832–1882 2 ‘The True National Party of Scotland’: 1882–1911 3 ‘A Birth, a Marriage or a Funeral' 1911–1924 4 Unionist Scotland: 1924–1945 5 ‘Scottish Control of Scottish Affairs’: 1945–1964 6 Reaching Rock Bottom: 1964–1970 7 ‘We in Scotland’: 1979–1997 8 The Wilderness Years: 1997–2011 9 Out of the Wilderness? 2011–2023 Conclusion Appendix 1 – Party Leaders Appendix 2 – Election Results Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

This is a lucidly written study covering almost two centuries of Conservative and Unionist politics in Scotland. It provides an insightful guide to ideology and policy; party organisation; leadership; electoral fortunes; and support base. It also illuminates the particular political challenges involved in the defence of a multi-national Union.

Graham Walker

This is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched work on the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Parties. Written in an accessible style, David Torrance synthesises an impressive range of secondary sources and uses primary material to make a fascinating, original contribution to our understanding of Conservativism, Unionism, Scottish politics and history.

James Mitchell

Drawing on various secondary works, archival sources, and interviews, Torrance weaves together a narrative that not only recounts the parties' historical trajectories but also places their roles within the broader landscape of Scottish politics. ... a thorough overview of Scottish Conservative and Unionist politics.

CHOICE - M. K. Thompson