In the 1880s, enclosure was still in process in the Scottish Highlands, and resistance to it often received support from radicals around Britain and Ireland. Branches of the Irish Land League, founded in 1879 to campaign against landlordism, had been set up in Scotland, but the League was wound up in 1883.
In 1884, Henry George toured the Highlands and major cities of Scotland on the invitation of the English Land Reform Union. Touring with Edward McHugh, he spoke on his theory of land reform. The tour culminated with a large meeting Glasgow on 18 February 1884, chaired by John Murdoch. Almost 2,000 people signed up, on the initiative of Richard McGhee, to form an organisation to propagate and campaign for George's ideas. This group was formed as the "Scottish Land Restoration League". William Forsyth became its first President, and McHugh its first Secretary. The group immediately spread to other cities around the nation. Among those who joined were many former members of the Land League.
A second tour by George at the end of 1884 attracted less attention, and McHugh was accused of mismanaging its publicity. Already, the League was in decline, and when it stood five candidates in the 1885 general election, they received a total of only 2,359 votes.[1] McGhee soon assumed the Presidency of the League.
In 1888, some members, around Keir Hardie, formed the Scottish Labour Party, and ceased to work with the League. McGhee left his post in 1889, to become honorary President of the National Union of Dock Labourers. Alexander Bowman was elected as the League's new President the following year. The League merged with the Henry George Institute and the South Side Single Tax Association and renamed itself the Scottish Land Restoration Federation. Two further organisations were born of the demise of the League—the Scottish Land Restoration Union and the Scottish League for the Taxation of Land Values. Bowman left this post in 1892, but the organisation continued, with a much lower profile, renaming itself as the Scottish Single Tax League. In 1904, it was again renamed, as the Scottish League for the Taxation of Land Values.[1]
Election results
1885 UK general election
Map showing seats in Glasgow in 1885. Marked in Green are seats contested by the League. Of the five seats contested by the League, four were in Glasgow.
^F. W. S. Craig, Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections
Henry George, Jr, The Life of Henry George: Third Period
Mairtin O'Caithain, Fenianism, Michael Davitt and Land and Labour in Scotland
John D. Wood, Henry George's Influence on Scottish Land Reform
Graham Boyd, To Restore the Land to the People and the People to the Land: the emergence of the Not-for-Private-Profit Landownership Sector in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Moses : a lecture ... delivered in St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, December 28, 1884 Glasgow : Scottish Single Tax League
February 14, 2023
scottish, land, restoration, league, georgist, political, party, founded1884, 1884, dissolved1904ideologygeorgismpolitics, scotlandpolitical, partieselections, contents, history, election, results, 1885, general, election, also, references, external, linkshist. The Scottish Land Restoration League was a Georgist political party Scottish Land Restoration LeagueFounded1884 1884 Dissolved1904IdeologyGeorgismPolitics of ScotlandPolitical partiesElections Contents 1 History 2 Election results 2 1 1885 UK general election 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditIn the 1880s enclosure was still in process in the Scottish Highlands and resistance to it often received support from radicals around Britain and Ireland Branches of the Irish Land League founded in 1879 to campaign against landlordism had been set up in Scotland but the League was wound up in 1883 In 1884 Henry George toured the Highlands and major cities of Scotland on the invitation of the English Land Reform Union Touring with Edward McHugh he spoke on his theory of land reform The tour culminated with a large meeting Glasgow on 18 February 1884 chaired by John Murdoch Almost 2 000 people signed up on the initiative of Richard McGhee to form an organisation to propagate and campaign for George s ideas This group was formed as the Scottish Land Restoration League William Forsyth became its first President and McHugh its first Secretary The group immediately spread to other cities around the nation Among those who joined were many former members of the Land League A second tour by George at the end of 1884 attracted less attention and McHugh was accused of mismanaging its publicity Already the League was in decline and when it stood five candidates in the 1885 general election they received a total of only 2 359 votes 1 McGhee soon assumed the Presidency of the League In 1888 some members around Keir Hardie formed the Scottish Labour Party and ceased to work with the League McGhee left his post in 1889 to become honorary President of the National Union of Dock Labourers Alexander Bowman was elected as the League s new President the following year The League merged with the Henry George Institute and the South Side Single Tax Association and renamed itself the Scottish Land Restoration Federation Two further organisations were born of the demise of the League the Scottish Land Restoration Union and the Scottish League for the Taxation of Land Values Bowman left this post in 1892 but the organisation continued with a much lower profile renaming itself as the Scottish Single Tax League In 1904 it was again renamed as the Scottish League for the Taxation of Land Values 1 Election results Edit1885 UK general election Edit Map showing seats in Glasgow in 1885 Marked in Green are seats contested by the League Of the five seats contested by the League four were in Glasgow Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage PositionGlasgow Blackfriars and Hutchesontown Shaw Maxwell 1 156 14 4 3Glasgow Bridgeton William Forsyth 978 12 1 3Partick John Murdoch 74 1 0 3Glasgow Tradeston Wallace McGuffin Greaves 86 1 1 3Greenock John Morrison Davidson 65 1 1 3See also EditHighland Land LeagueReferences Edit F W S Craig Minor Parties at British Parliamentary Elections Henry George Jr The Life of Henry George Third Period Mairtin O Caithain Fenianism Michael Davitt and Land and Labour in Scotland John D Wood Henry George s Influence on Scottish Land Reform Graham Boyd To Restore the Land to the People and the People to the Land the emergence of the Not for Private Profit Landownership Sector in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland 2 External links EditMoses a lecture delivered in St Andrew s Hall Glasgow December 28 1884 Glasgow Scottish Single Tax League Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scottish Land Restoration League amp oldid 1081622612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
