Scottish Liberal Party
The Scottish Liberal Party, the section of the Liberal Party in Scotland, was the dominant political party of Victorian Scotland, and although its importance declined with the rise of the Labour and Unionist parties during the 20th century, it was still a significant, albeit much reduced force when it finally merged with the Social Democratic Party in Scotland, to form the Scottish Liberal Democrats in 1988.
The party lost its last remaining seats in 1945, and continued to decline in popular support in the post war years, with Jo Grimond being the sole Scottish Liberal MP in the House of Commons from 1951 to 1964. The party gained a partial revival in the 1964 general election returning three further MPs; George Mackie, Russell Johnston and Alasdair Mackenzie. A further gain came the following year with David Steel's victory at the Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles by-election. Steel went on to become a pivotal figure in the development of Scottish devolution, in partnership with John Smith, Donald Dewar and other key Labour and Liberal figures.
Victorian party
The Victorian Liberal party in Scotland was not always ideologically unified, and was faced with many internal divisions, particularly amongst the more conservative Whiggish elements of the party who were largely based in Edinburgh and the East, and the more western and Glasgow-based radical Liberals.The East and North of Scotland Liberal Association and the West and South West of Scotland Liberal Association were founded in 1877. Early in 1881, they merged, forming the Scottish Liberal Association, led by Gladstone and Adam. A National Liberal Federation of Scotland was founded in April 1886, but merged into the Liberal Association in December.
The Scottish Women's Liberal Federation was formed in 1891 from regional groups and was led by Anne Lindsay.
Leadership
Chairmen
Presidents
Leader
- Until 1973, the party was led by the president.
- Russell Johnston, 1973–1988
Electoral performance
| Election | National leader in Scotland | Vote % | Seats | Government |
| 1859 | 66.4 | |||
| 1865 | 85.4 | |||
| 1868 | 82.5 | |||
| 1874 | 68.4 | |||
| 1880 | 70.1 | |||
| 1885 | William Ewart Gladstone for Midlothian | 53.3 | ||
| 1886 | William Ewart Gladstone for Midlothian | 53.6 | ||
| 1892 | William Ewart Gladstone for Midlothian | 53.9 | ||
| 1895 | 51.7 | |||
| 1900 | Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman for Stirling Burghs | 50.2 | ||
| 1906 | Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman for Stirling Burghs | 56.4 | ||
| Jan 1910 | H. H. Asquith for East Fife | 54.2 | ||
| Dec 1910 | H. H. Asquith for East Fife | 53.6 | ||
| 1918 | H. H. Asquith for East Fife | Official Liberal 15.0 Coalition Liberal 19.1 | Official Liberal Coalition Liberal | |
| 1922 | H. H. Asquith for Paisley | Official Liberal 21.5 National Liberal 17.7 | Official Liberal National Liberal | |
| 1923 | H. H. Asquith for Paisley | 28.4 | ||
| 1924 | H. H. Asquith for Paisley | 16.6 | ||
| 1929 | 18.1 | |||
| 1931 | 8.6 | |||
| 1935 | 6.7 | |||
| 1945 | Sir Archibald Sinclair for Caithness and Sutherland | 5.6 | ||
| 1950 | 6.6 | |||
| 1951 | 2.7 | |||
| 1955 | 1.9 | |||
| 1959 | Jo Grimond for Orkney and Shetland | 4.1 | ||
| 1964 | Jo Grimond for Orkney and Shetland | 7.6 | ||
| 1966 | Jo Grimond for Orkney and Shetland | 6.8 | ||
| 1970 | 5.5 | |||
| February 1974 | 7.9 | |||
| October 1974 | 8.3 | |||
| 1979 | David Steel for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles | 9.0 |