Welcome to The Keir Hardie Society

The Keir Hardie Society was formed on 15 August 2010 and aims to keep alive the ideas and promote the life and work of Keir Hardie.

You can support our work by joining the Society here. 

News

Keir Hardie Trail - Ayrshire
Why not visit the sites associated with Keir Hardie in Ayrshire this summer. A Keir Hardie staycation or just a day out if you live locally.
On new trail page sets out the sites to visit with an interactive map.

Keir Hardie and Home Rule
Keir Hardie's support for Home Rule is often misunderstood and sometimes misrepresented. In this article we explain the context of Keir Hardie's support for Home Rule and what it meant. Keir Hardie was a socialist, not a nationalist. His and the early Labour Party’s support for Home Rule was part of the Liberal tradition that was closer to what we would recognise as devolution today.
​You can also download a PDF version of this article here.

Open meeting - 25 January 2021.

Our last open meeting was held on 25 January 2021 at 5pm. The speaker was be Professor Peter Cole talking about Keir Hardie's visits to the USA. 

West Ham South  election 120th anniversary booklet
The excellent Newham Council booklet is now available as a download.

Open Meeting - 22 October 2020
We are holding an open meeting on 22 October 2020 at 7pm. The speakers are Rachel Holmes and Melissa Benn.
It will be followed by the AGM for members.

​More details in our latest Bulletin.

Happy Birthday Hardie!

KHS President Cathy Jamieson laying flowers on the gravestone in Cumnock this morning.

The Radical Rising of 1820
The 200th anniversary of a less well known part of the radical 19th century tradtion, which Keir Hardie liked to reference. In the blog we outline the context, events and lessons learned from 1820 by later agitators, including Keir Hardie.

What would Keir Hardie say: Where next for the Labour Party?
Blackwell's is hosting Pauline Bryan heading up a panel of experts to consider the legacy of Labour founder Keir Hardie.
27 February 2020 at Blackwells Edinburgh South Bridge starting at 18:30.
Tickets from eventbrite.

Insurrection: Scotland's Famine Winter
We review James Hunter's new book on the less well known Scottish potato famine, which led to insurrection in parts of the north of Scotland. This arguably had later political consequences. 

September Bulletin
Our September Bulletin has just gone out. It includes a link to our new book - Keir Hardie and the 21th Century Socialist Revival. Available from Luath Press.

Keir Hardie in South Africa
Our Secretary's blog post covers Hardie's controversial visit to South Africa in 1907. Right wing groups attacked many of his meetings and his views created a few challenges for the labour movement in the country. 

Respecting our history
The Society has made a submission to the Scottish Labour Party's First Stage policy consultation paper. It sets out our concerns over the current state of historical resources in Scotland and recommends a number of positive actions.

Keir Hardie's brush with sedition
A file in the National Archives includes a complaint that Keir Hardie and others were inciting sedition in relation to the use of troops during strikes in 1912. The full story is in our blog.

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AGM 15 June 2019
The Keir Hardie Society AGM was held on Saturday 15 June 2019 at Cumnock Town Hall. All the details and more in our latest Bulletin. https://mailchi.mp/7394786b52b8/keir-hardie-society-bulletin-may-2019

Keir Hardie and the 21st Century Socialist Revival
Coming soon to a bookshop near you.

2019 Scottish Labour Party Conference
The Keir Hardie Society hosted a reception at the 2019 Scottish Labour conference in Dundee, to promote the work of the society and to encourage delegates to join.
The reception was held in the Apex Hotel, Dundee on Friday 8 March. Jeremy Corbyn MP, Lesley Laird MP and Richard Leonard MSP spoke about their links to the society and its work.
The Keir Hardie Society is grateful to UNISON Labour Link for sponsoring the event.

Great Railway Journeys to Keir Hardie
In the Lowland town of Cumnock, canvassers are out in force – it is the cradle of the Labour Party and home of its founder, Keir Hardie. Michael Portillo braves enemy territory to discover Hardie’s influence today. Interview with Cathy Jamieson. You can view the programme on BBC iPlayer.

Keir Hardie Society Bulletin - Oct 2018
The October edition of the Society’s Bulletin is out now. https://mailchi.mp/2df338c2a365/keir-hardie-society-bulletin-oct-2018

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