Finlay Hart
Encyclopedia
Finlay Hart was a Scottish
communist politician
.
Born in Clydebank
, Hart attended Clydebank High School
. He became politically active when he joined the Workers International Industrial Union in 1915 while working at the William Beardmore and Company
shipyard, in Dalmuir
. Part of the Red Clydeside
movement, in 1917, he joined the Socialist Labour Party
, and he was part of the majority from that party who founded the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB). In 1923, he emigrated to Edmonton
in Canada in an attempt to find work, joining the Communist Party of Canada
, but he returned to Clydebank
in Scotland by 1926, where he worked as a plumber
.
In 1934, Hart was a leading figure in a Glasgow to London hunger march. The following year, he was elected as the first communist councillor in Clydebank, although he resigned in 1937 to move to London and become National Industrial Organiser for the CPGB. He also held various District Secretary posts for the party: Scotland in 1935, the North Midlands
from 1939 to 1940, and South Yorkshire
from 1940 to 1942. Hart was a delegate to the Seventh Congress of the Communist International in Moscow.
Hart stood for parliament on three occasions, West Dunbartonshire
in 1950, and Glasgow Springburn
in 1955 and 1959, but was never elected. During the 1950s, Hart served as Chairman of the Scottish Committee of the CPGB.
Hart was subsequently re-elected to Clydebank Town Council, and also to Dunbartonshire
County Council. He retired from his party posts in 1963, but later became Provost
of Clydebank and participated in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
work-in.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
communist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
, Hart attended Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School
Clydebank High School is a non-denominational high school in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is one of three non-denominational schools in the region. The High School offers pupils 5-14 levels A-F, Access three, Standard Grade, Intermediate 1&2, Higher as well as Advanced Higher in some subjects...
. He became politically active when he joined the Workers International Industrial Union in 1915 while working at the William Beardmore and Company
William Beardmore and Company
William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people...
shipyard, in Dalmuir
Dalmuir
Dalmuir is an area on the western side of Clydebank, in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.-Location:It is neighboured by the village of Old Kilpatrick, the Mountblow and Parkhall areas of Clydebank, as well as the town centre...
. Part of the Red Clydeside
Red Clydeside
Red Clydeside is a term used to describe the era of political radicalism that characterised the city of Glasgow in Scotland, and urban areas around the city on the banks of the River Clyde such as Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley...
movement, in 1917, he joined the Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (UK, 1903)
The Socialist Labour Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1903 as a splinter from the Social Democratic Federation by James Connolly, Neil Maclean and SDF members impressed with the politics of the American socialist Daniel De Leon, a Marxist...
, and he was part of the majority from that party who founded the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(CPGB). In 1923, he emigrated to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
in Canada in an attempt to find work, joining the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
, but he returned to Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
in Scotland by 1926, where he worked as a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
.
In 1934, Hart was a leading figure in a Glasgow to London hunger march. The following year, he was elected as the first communist councillor in Clydebank, although he resigned in 1937 to move to London and become National Industrial Organiser for the CPGB. He also held various District Secretary posts for the party: Scotland in 1935, the North Midlands
North Midlands
The North Midlands is a loosely-defined area of England. It is typically held to include South Yorkshire and the northern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and in some definitions also covers southern Cheshire and parts of Lincolnshire and Staffordshire. The region's largest city is Sheffield...
from 1939 to 1940, and South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
from 1940 to 1942. Hart was a delegate to the Seventh Congress of the Communist International in Moscow.
Hart stood for parliament on three occasions, West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
West Dunbartonshire is a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election and covers the same area as the county of West Dunbartonshire.The current constituency was first used in...
in 1950, and Glasgow Springburn
Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Springburn was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until the 2005 general election, when it was largely replaced by the Glasgow North East constituency....
in 1955 and 1959, but was never elected. During the 1950s, Hart served as Chairman of the Scottish Committee of the CPGB.
Hart was subsequently re-elected to Clydebank Town Council, and also to Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire or the County of Dumbarton is a lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Until 1975 it was a county used as a primary unit of local government with its county town and administrative centre at the town...
County Council. He retired from his party posts in 1963, but later became Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of Clydebank and participated in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders was a British shipbuilding consortium created in 1968 as a result of the amalgamation of five major shipbuilders of the River Clyde in Scotland...
work-in.