Jimmy Reid: A Scottish Political Journey

by Kenny MacAskill

Jimmy Reid's funeral in 2010 was attended by Gordon Brown the former Prime Minister, Alex Salmond the First Minister and other leading politicians. Eulogies were given by his friends Sir Alex Ferguson and Billy Connolly. Crowds lined the streets for the funeral cortege. The Daily Telegraph described Reid as the 'greatest MP Scotland never had' in its obituary. Yet to date there has been no biography of the man who was an iconic figure in Scotland and hugely popular both as a politician and then as a TV and media commentator. Written with the approval and input of his family and friends it provides an insight into the man and his life. MacAskill's biography describes Jimmy Reid's rich and varied life from his upbringing in Govan, a senior full time official for the Communist Party of Great Britain, as well as his role in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilder's work-in which ran for 16 months from June 1971 to October 1972. He was active in the trade union movement, and his political career took him from the CPGB to the Labour Party and eventually to the SNP and the cause of Scottish independence. The biography also covers his later career in the media as an acclaimed newspaper and magazine columnist and gifted television presenter. Underpinning the personal story is Scotland's changing political landscape, transforming a land of council housing and manufacturing industry to owner occupied and financial services.

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2017

About the author

Kenny MacAskill was MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh and Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government between 2007 and 2014. He studied law at the University of Edinburgh and was a senior partner in an Edinburgh law firm before being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Reviews

[I · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this book, the writing style is too pedestrian to capture what made this man, not just captivating but listened to.
Jimmy Reid was a Legend in the Scottish political world and media from the 70s until his death in 2010.
His integrity proceeded him throughout his life. Although he was, as the book quotes "the best MP Scotland never had", being in direct political power was not his role in life. His was to be the light that shone on the inequality and unfairness of society at large, the politicians in power, and on political mechanisations as a whole.
Although the book charts his career throughout the Communist Party and his seminal role in the work-in on the Clyde Shipyards in the 70s, it does so with excruciating banality. There are lists of voting statistics for various elections. However, what this book needed are the personal insights from friends, family, colleagues, and foes alike to make the man, not the reputation, come alive.
Fortunately, there are direct quotes from two of Reid's most famous speeches, including his renowned address at his election as Rector at the University of Glasgow which includes the following: "A Rat Race is for rats. We are not rats. We are Human Beings."

[John Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about a man who was at the forefront of political activism for many of my formative years then continuing into journalism and broadcasting.
The book could have been better edited as there were quite a few repetitive lines, especially in the opening chapters, not to mention the prefix HMS given to the liners Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth II.
Apart from that, it was enjoyable and brought back a lot of memories. Some good but mostly bad especially in the eighties.

[George Cochrane · Rating 1 out of 5]

No disrespect to Jimmy... Gave up half way through the first chapter.

[Donald Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story in need of a competent editor.