Jimmy Reid: A Scottish Political Journey

by Kenny MacAskill

Jimmy Reid was a hugely influential figure in Scottish politics – his funeral in 2010 was attended by Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond – yet this is the first biography of him. It follows his tough Clydeside upbringing, his work as a shipbuilders†union leader, and his political journey from communism through the Labour Party (which he left in protest at the Iraq War) to support for the SNP and Scottish independence.

384 pages, Hardcover

Published October 12, 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.