Neil Maclean (politician)

For those with the same name, see Neil Maclean (disambiguation). For those of a similar name, see Neil McLean (disambiguation).

Neil Maclean (1875 – 12 September 1953) was a Scottish socialist and an Independent Labour Party and later Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Govan in Glasgow.

Maclean was the first Secretary of the Socialist Labour Party, but was expelled in 1908. Then a member of the Independent Labour Party (ILP), Maclean worked closely with other socialists in the Glasgow area, as part of the Red Clydeside movement. Like many other Red Clydesiders, he was a conscientious objector in the First World War. He greatly influenced Manny Shinwell. An organiser for the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, in the 1918 General Election Maclean was elected to the House of Commons to represent the Govan seat in Glasgow. When many of his fellow ILP Clydesiders left the Labour Party, Maclean remained a Labour MP, associating for a time with the Scottish Socialist Party.

He retired from Parliament in 1950 when he could not secure his renomination. He was offered a seat in the House of Lords, but declined due to his socialist principles. He was awarded a CBE.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Neil Maclean

Political offices
Preceded by New position	Secretary of the Socialist Labour Party 1903–1908	Succeeded by Frank Budgen
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Daniel Turner Holmes	MP for Glasgow Govan 1918–1950	Succeeded by Jack Browne