CENTENARY OF GLASGOW RENT STRIKES AND REMEMBER MARY BARBOUR ASSOCIATION

Early day motion 684, tabled 9 November 2015 by Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party). Signed by 32 members.

That this House notes the centenary of the Glasgow rent strikes, which culminated on 17 November 1915, with thousands of tenants from Govan and across Glasgow besieging the Sheriff Court to protest at actions by landlords for charging extortionate increases; further notes that this followed months of rent strikes by 30,000 households and, faced with these demonstrations, the Sheriff telephoned Prime Minister David Lloyd George, leading to an assurance that the Government would take immediate legal powers to freeze rents, and the creation of the Rent Restrictions Act which opened the way to council housing; notes the contribution of the key organiser of the rent strikes, Mary Barbour, whose contribution to the City of Glasgow later included service as a Councillor and as one of the first women magistrates in Glasgow; commends the work of the Remember Mary Barbour Association in reminding today's generation of these historic events; encourages fundraising events for a statute to commemorate her work; and believes that all events during the First World War should be remembered and taught to today's generation.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 24, Labour 7, Independent 1.