Organisation of Scottish Labour


The Organisation of Scottish Labour is a body established under the national rules of the UK Labour Party.

Timeline

Origins and evolution of Scottish Labour
The Scottish Executive Committee is the governing body of the Scottish Labour Party, responsible for administrative matters and strategic policy direction. The SEC officially meets every second month, with much of day-to-day party business and operations undertaken in groups and commissions. The SEC has three different membership sections – Constituency Labour Party members, elected members and trade unions and affiliates. It is further split into the local government sub-committee and the constitution, fundraising and campaigns working groups.
Membership as of 2019:
Office Bearers
Elected Members
Constituency Labour Party members
Trade Union Section
Scottish Labour Women’s Committee
Co-operative Party & Socialist Societies
Scottish Young Labour

Scottish Policy Forum

The Scottish Policy Forum is a body of the Scottish Labour Party responsible for developing a rolling policy programme on devolved matters. The Scottish Annual Conference approves policies of the SPF programme every year with the Scottish Executive Committee deciding which items of the programme are to be incorporated in Labour's manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections. The SPF policy-making process is led by the 80 members elected from all sections of the party. The SPF establishes policy commissions to draw together policy discussion documents for consultation over three stages. The SPF is subordinate and feeds reports to the National Policy Forum.

General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party

The General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, subordinate to the General Secretary of the Labour Party, is the administrative head and the most senior permanent staff member of the Scottish Labour Party. The General Secretary is responsible for running the party's organisation: legal affairs, staff management, campaigns, conferences, and liaising with the UK party. They also act as the Registered Treasurer, responsible for the party's financial accounts.
General SecretaryNotes
1914–1931Ben Shaw
1932–1939Arthur Woodburn
1939–1951John Taylor
1951–1977Willie Marshall
1977–1988Helen Liddell
1988–1992Murray Elder
1992–1998Jack McConnellLeft role in 1998 to work for 9 months at lobbying firm Public Affairs Europe Ltd, owned by Beattie Media and Maclay Murray & Spens
In 1999, elected as Motherwell and Wishaw MSP and became First Minister of Scotland in 2001
Elevated to House of Lords as Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale in 2010
1998–1999Alex RowleySacked as general secretary after setting out proposals for giving Scottish Labour more freedom from London control
Went on to become a Fife councillor, Leader of Fife Council, and MSP for Cowdenbeath
Elected Scottish Labour deputy leader in 2014 however stood down in 2017 following allegations of misconduct from a former partner
1999–2008Joined the Labour Party as a 16-year-old junior shorthand typist
As assistant general secretary, became acting general secretary in June 1999 to coordinate 1999 European election campaign
Formally appointed as general secretary in November 1999
Stood down at 2008 Scottish Labour conference in Aviemore in March
2008–2012Colin SmythDumfries and Galloway councillor for Nith Ward
Elected as a regional member for South Scotland at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election
2012–2013Brian Roy
2013–2014Ian Price
2014Fiona Stanton
2014–2019Brian Roy
2019–2020Lorna Finlayson
2020–presentMichael Sharpe

Parliamentary representation

Leader's Office
Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Ministers
Backbenchers
Director of CommunicationsNotes
1998April 1998 to 21 May 1998
Headhunted by Donald Dewar and Gordon Brown
Ran Labour's Scottish press campaign in the 1992 general election
Four years as an aide/researcher to Gordon Brown, alongside Pat McFadden and David Miliband
Head of STV news production until April 1998 Returned to STV from 1998 until 2004
Worked for Oxfam from 2004 until 2006, when he joined Al Jazeera
1998−1999Lorraine DavidsonJuly 1998 to July 1999
2000−2002John ScottFrom February 2000
2001–2005Colin Edgar
2006–2007Steven Lawther
2007Brian Lironi
2007Matthew Marr
2007Gavin Yates
2007−2008Tony McElroy
2008Rami Okasha
2019Conrad Landin

Special Advisers to Donald Dewar
As Secretary of State for Scotland :
As First Minister :
2003
2007
2011
2016
Donors
2010 general election expenditure: £968,000
YearIncomeExpenditure
2010706,738599,951
2009387,722307,925
2008396,159455,699
20071,029,358940,851
2006396,777471,698
2005523,523437,219
2004318,609305,120
2003858,547920,233
2002353,342320,669

Books