History of the Scottish Liberals and Liberal Democrats

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).

• IntroductionChapter 1: 1832-1880, ‘The party of national patriotism’Chapter 2: 1880-1906, ‘The only relevant feature of Scottish political life’Chapter 3: 1906-1922, Liberal ScotlandChapter 4: 1922-1946 The 'strange death' of Liberal ScotlandChapter 5: 1946-1964, ‘Intransigence and domestic strife’Chapter 6: 1964-1979, ‘Home Rule in a federal Britain’Chapter 7: 1979-1988, 'Breaking the mould' of Scottish politicsChapter 8: 1988-1999, ‘Guarantors of home rule’Chapter 9: 1999-2021, In and out of governmentConclusion: Whither Scottish Liberalism?Bibliography; Appendix 1 – Party Leaders; Appendix 2 – Election results

a highly readable, informed and much to be commended account of Scottish Liberal and Liberal Democrat history.