(When there was) a new left party in Dumfries

A review in the latest issue of the Socialist History journal considers Ian Gasse's detailed book on the emergence of labour politics in Dumfries.

Lewis Willcox describes how A Hard Nut to Crack? 'considers the interaction between the labour movement and the local community and reflects on the building of a local popular socialism. The cultural activities of the labour movement are really brought to focus with the implementation of adult education groups, concerts and Burns Nights all being highlighted ... attempts at building local socialist cultures are illustrated with clear examples of how organisations attempted to interact with the locality and establish a presence within it'.

Covering Clarion Clubs, the Scottish Labour Party, the ILP and other organisations which were active in the late 1800s and up to the First World War, Gasse's book builds on his significant contribution to Scottish working-class history: he previously authored books on trade unionism and the Co-operative movement in Dumfries.

Willcox's review is free to view here (numbered pages 121 to 124).

Sadly, Ian Gasse died suddenly before he had chance to read Willcox's review of his book in a journal to which he was a long-time subscriber. A short obituary notice observes that 'he had been active over the last decade with a wide range of progressive, environmental and anti-racist organisations, including Dumfries Trades Union Council and the Scottish Labour History Society', which published an appreciation of his life and contribution.

Published 21 July 2025