Search results for ""Author David Torrance""
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Wild Men: The Remarkable Story of Britain's First Labour Government
'Thoroughly researched…brings superbly to life figures whom history should not have forgotten.' - Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph 'A highly readable, enjoyable and informative book.' - John McTernan, Financial Times 'A meticulously researched collective biography.' - Andrew Marr, New Statesman In 1923, four short years since the end of the First World War, and after the passing of the Act which gave all men the vote, an inconclusive election result and the prospect of a constitutional crisis opened the door for a radically different sort of government: men from working-class backgrounds who had never before occupied the corridors of power at Westminster. Who were these ‘wild men’? Ramsay MacDonald, their leader and Labour’s first Prime Minster, was the illegitimate son of a Scottish farm labourer; Arthur Henderson was a Scottish iron moulder; J. H. Thomas, a Welsh railwayman; John Wheatley, an Irish-born miner and publican; and William Adamson, a Fife coal miner. Never before had men from such backgrounds occupied the corridors of power in Westminster. The Wild Men tells the story of that first Labour administration – its unexpected birth, fraught existence, and controversial downfall – through the eyes of those who found themselves in the House of Commons, running the country for the people. Blending biography and history into a compelling narrative, David Torrance reassesses the UK’s first Labour government a century after it shook up a British establishment still reeling from the War – and how the establishment eventually fought back. This is an extraordinary period in British political history which echoes down the years to our current politics and laid the foundations for the Britain of today.
£18.00
Luath Press Ltd General Election 2015: A Guide for Voters in Scotland
The 2015 General Election is just two months away and whilst the debates are heating up, experts are unanimous on one thing: that this is set to be the most important and unpredictable election since World War Two. So who’s who in the current landscape of UK party politics? Who most represents your views? What would a country governed by that party look like? Co-author of Scotland’s Referendum: A Guide for Voters and author of 100 Days of Hope and Fear, David Torrance is here to give you all the information you need to make your vote count. This pocket-sized guide features a chapter on Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the SNP and UKIP, and another dedicated to the other parties contesting seats. The guide is rounded off with a prediction of possible outcomes and an overview of the constitutional implications the election has for Scotland.
£6.88
Luath Press Ltd Britain Rebooted: Scotland in a Federal Union
Great Britain, (abbreviation: UK) England, Wales and Scotland considered as a unit. The name is also often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom.reboot, ri-bu:t , verb to restart or revive… give fresh impetus to…federal, fed ar-al, adj. having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.Would federalism work in the UK?Wouldn’t England dominate a British federation?How would powers be distributed between federal and home Nation level?What about the House of Lords?In the run up to the historic referendum on Scottish independence there has been a plethora of tracts, articles and books arguing for and against, but there remains a gap in the literature: the case for Scotland becoming part of a ‘rebooted’ federal Union. It is an old, usually Liberal, dream, but one still worth fighting for.It is often assumed that federalism is somehow ‘alien’ to the Scottish and British constitutional tradition but in this short book journalist David Torrance argues that not only has the UK already become a quasi-federal state but that formal federation is the best way of squaring the competing demands of Nationalists and Unionists.He also uses Scotland’s place within a federal UK to examine other potential reforms with a view to tackling ever-increasing inequality across the British Isles and create a more equal, successful and constitutionally coherent country.
£8.03
Luath Press Ltd Great Scottish Speeches: Volume 2
What makes a speech great? In this second volume of Great Scottish Speeches, more than 60 speeches made by Scots or by others in Scotland have been drawn together, not necessarily for their heart-stopping eloquence (although many have that), but as a testament to their enduring historical significance. These speeches each provide a snapshot of the social, cultural or political context in which they were made, a celebration of the power of great oratory across the ages.As you fight for fairness, you will always find in me a friend, a partner and a brother. Gordon Brown O sister, rule your realm in peace; I give up every claim to these domains. Mary Queen of Scots Such in my opinion is the true gospel concerning wealth, obedience to which is destined someday to solve the problems of the rich and the poor. Andrew Carnegie Vote, Jock. Vote, Sweaty Sock. Talk properly. Alan Bissett
£15.29
Luath Press Ltd Great Scottish Speeches
Some Great Scottish Speeches were the result of years of contemplation. Some flourished in heat of the moment. Whatever the background of the ideas expressed, the speeches not only provide a snapshot of their time, but express views that still resonate in Scotland today, whether you agree with the sentiments or not. Encompassing speeches made by Scots or in Scotland, this carefully selected collection reveals the character of a nation. Themes of religion, independence and socialism cross paths with sporting encouragement, Irish Home Rule and Miss Jean Brodie. Ranging from the legendary speech of the Caledonian chief Calgagus in 83AD right up to Alex Salmond's election victory in 2007, these are the speeches that created modern Scotland.
£15.29
Luath Press Ltd On Being A Man: Four Scottish Men in Conversation
What does ‘masculinity’ mean today?On Being a Man brings together four men to consider the condition of Scottish men, reflect on their own backgrounds and experiences, and confront some of the most difficult issues men face. These include the changing roles of men in Scottish society, the role of work and employment.What it means to be a man is very different from forty years ago: in terms of expectations, relationships, how men relate to partners, bring up children and what constitutes a modern family. However, there is a dark side of Scottish masculinity – seen in the drinking, violent, abusive behaviour of some Scots men, and this book addresses this directly, getting into issues many of us often shy away from confronting.Draws on the wide-ranging voices of: journalist, writer and broadcaster, David Torrance; founder of a youth employment and mentoring charity, Sandy Campbell; public health researcher, Pete Seaman; and former policeman and head of the violence reduction unit, John Carnochan.
£8.03