Томас Джонстон: Шотландия саяхатшысы және саясаткері

Scottish socialist and politician

Thomas Johnston (2 November 1881 – 5 September 1965) was a prominent Scottish socialist journalist who became a politician of the early 20th century, a member of the Labour Party, a member of parliament (MP) and government minister – usually with Cabinet responsibility for Scottish affairs. He was also a notable figure in the Friendly society movement in Scotland.

Johnston was the son of David Johnston, a grocer, and his wife, Mary Blackwood. He was born in Kirkintilloch in 1881 and educated at Kirkintilloch Board School then at Lenzie Academy. Studying Moral Philosophy and Political Economy at the University of Glasgow, he failed to graduate, but helped launch the left wing journal, Forward, in 1906, and in the same city later became associated with the 'Red Clydesiders', a socialist grouping that included James Maxton and Manny Shinwell. In 1909 he published a book, Our Scots Noble Families, which aimed to discredit the landed aristocracy. First elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Stirling and Clackmannan West in November 1922 general election, Johnston lost his seat at the October 1924 general election. He quickly returned to Parliament, winning the Dundee by election in December. He was re elected for Stirling and Clackmannan Western at the 1929 general election, when he was appointed Under Secretary of State for Scotland by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. This troubled administration was relatively short lived; only a handful of Labour ministers supported MacDonald's proposal of a coalition government, with Johnston and other Red Clydesiders among the strong opponents. Long a member of the Independent Labour Party, he opposed its disaffiliation from the Labour Party. He lost his seat at the 1931 general election, and failed to be returned at a by election in Dunbartonshire in 1932, but he joined the new Scottish Socialist Party, which affiliated to Labour, and he returned (representing Stirling and Clackmannan West) to the House of Commons at the 1935 general election and remained an MP until retiring in the 1945 general election. Johnston was the key government figure involved in the evacuation of St Kilda, Scotland in 1930. Documents relating to this event, which attracted considerable press attention, are available to view in the National Archives of Scotland.

In April 1939, during the build up to the Second World War, John Anderson, the Home Secretary, appointed Johnston as Commissioner for Civil Defence in Scotland. In this role, Johnston oversaw preparations for aerial bombardment and possible invasion, and the organisation of shelter and relief work. Prime Minister Winston Churchill appointed Johnston as Secretary of State for Scotland on 12 February 1941, and Johnston retained the post until May 1945. As Devine (1999) concludes, "Johnston was a giant figure in Scottish politics and is revered to this day as the greatest Scottish Secretary of the century In essence, Johnston was promised the powers of a benign dictator.". Johnston launched numerous initiatives to promote Scotland. Opposed to the excessive concentration of industry in the English Midlands, he attracted 700 businesses and 90,000 new jobs through his new Scottish Council of Industry. He set up 32 committees to deal with any number of social and economic problems, ranging from juvenile delinquency to sheep farming. He regulated rents, and set up a prototype national health service (see Emergency Hospital Service), using new hospitals set up in the expectation of large numbers of casualties from German bombing. His most successful venture was setting up a system of hydroelectricity using water power in the Scottish Highlands. A long standing supporter of the Home Rule movement, he was able to persuade Churchill of the need to counter the Scottish nationalist threat north of the border and created a Scottish Council of State and a Council of Industry as institutions to devolve some power away from Whitehall.

He withdrew from politics in 1945 to run the Hydro Board. Johnston subsequently served as chairman of various Scottish organisations, including the Scottish Tourist Board, the Scottish National Forestry Commission (1945–48) and the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board (1946–59). He represented Scottish interests in the council appointed to devise the 1951 Festival of Britain. In 1948 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen. He was also Chancellor of Aberdeen University from 1951 until his death in 1965.

Undoubtedly his greatest legacy was the creation of the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board.

In 1920 he published the History of the Working Classes in Scotland. He married Margaret F. Cochrane (d.1977) in 1914 and they were married for over 50 years. From 1950 to 1952 he served as President of the Scottish History Society. He died in Milngavie on 5 September 1965.

Johnston, Tom. Memories (1952)