Scottish Left Review

Scottish Left Review is a bimonthly magazine associated with the broad Scottish left. Established in 2000, it provides a forum for political analysis, commentary, debate, and movement-oriented writing from contributors across Scotland's left-wing political spectrum. Its contributor base has included members of different left parties as well as people who belong to no political party, giving the publication a deliberately broad platform rather than tying it exclusively to one organisation. The magazine emerged in the context of renewed political debate in Scotland around devolution, social democracy, labour organisation, independence, public services, and the prospects for socialist politics. Its founding group included Bob Thomson, Henry McCubbin, Jimmy Reid, Roseanna Cunningham, and John McAllion, alongside other prominent figures from the Scottish left. The publication's identity has been shaped by an emphasis on independent discussion and by an attempt to connect political theory with the practical concerns of trade unions, campaigns, and progressive organisations. Editorial leadership has changed over time. Robin McAlpine edited the magazine from the early 2000s until mid-2014. Gregor Gall subsequently served as editor until 2022, after which Cailean Gallagher became editor. These editorial phases have maintained the publication's connection to Scotland's political debates while allowing its themes and contributors to develop with changing circumstances. Scottish Left Review expanded beyond the periodical itself in 2006 by establishing Scottish Left Review Press. The press published books and edited collections, including the bestselling volume Is There a Scottish Road to Socialism?, thereby extending the magazine's role into longer-form political publishing. In 2010, the organisation also established the Jimmy Reid Foundation, a policy and research body named after the prominent Scottish trade-unionist and political figure. Together, the magazine, press, and foundation form a wider intellectual and publishing ecosystem around left-wing debate in Scotland. The publication uses a mixed support model. Printed issues are funded partly through reader subscriptions, while advertising from trade unions and progressive organisations and donations from readers and supporters provide additional income. Its website has become an important distribution channel, complementing the hard-copy magazine and making articles available to a substantially wider audience. Reported website activity reached 500,796 hits and 95,530 unique visitors in July 2025, and readership was described as having more than trebled over the preceding three years. Scottish Left Review is best understood as a political periodical and movement publication rather than a conventional commercial media brand. Its positioning rests on independent left analysis, engagement with organised labour and progressive campaigning, and the creation of space for debate among diverse currents of the Scottish left.

Scottish Left Review was established in 2000 as a bimonthly magazine of the Scottish left. Its founding group included Bob Thomson, Henry McCubbin, Jimmy Reid, Roseanna Cunningham, and John McAllion, among other prominent figures. From the beginning, the publication was intended to provide a broad forum rather than operate as the official journal of a single political party. Its contributors have come from different parties on the Scottish left and from unaffiliated political backgrounds. The magazine developed during a period in which Scottish politics was being reshaped by devolution, debates about the powers and responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament, changes in the labour movement, and competing visions of Scotland's economic and social future. Scottish Left Review's role has been to publish analysis and commentary connected to these debates, with particular attention to socialism, organised labour, public services, progressive politics, and the relationship between political ideas and practical campaigns. Robin McAlpine served as editor from the early 2000s until mid-2014. His tenure covered the publication's formative period and helped establish its profile as a platform for left-wing discussion in Scotland. Gregor Gall then edited the magazine until 2022. Cailean Gallagher is the current editor identified in the available reference material. The organisation broadened its publishing activities in 2006 through the creation of Scottish Left Review Press. The press enabled the group to issue longer works and edited collections in addition to the regular magazine. One of its notable publications was Is There a Scottish Road to Socialism?, an edited collection described as a bestseller. The title reflected the organisation's wider interest in examining how socialist politics might develop within Scotland's distinctive institutional and political setting. In 2010, Scottish Left Review established the Jimmy Reid Foundation. Named after the well-known Scottish trade-unionist and political figure Jimmy Reid, the foundation added a policy and research dimension to the organisation's activities. The magazine, press, and foundation consequently operate as related parts of a broader intellectual infrastructure for Scotland's progressive and labour-oriented debate. The publication has retained a mixed financial and distribution model. Subscriptions for the printed magazine provide one source of income. Advertising from trade unions and progressive organisations supplies another, while donations from readers and supporters help sustain the publication. This model reflects its position as a politically oriented periodical with a constituency-based rather than mass-commercial business structure. Alongside the printed edition, the website has become increasingly important. Available reference material reports hundreds of thousands of website visits and cites 500,796 hits and 95,530 unique visitors in July 2025. The same material states that readership had more than trebled over the preceding three years. These figures indicate that the publication's reach extends beyond its paid print circulation and that online distribution is central to its contemporary presence. Today, Scottish Left Review remains an active Scottish left publication. Its principal identity is that of a magazine, but its history also includes book publishing and policy research through Scottish Left Review Press and the Jimmy Reid Foundation. Across these activities, the organisation's distinguishing feature is its effort to facilitate discussion among multiple strands of the Scottish left while maintaining a clear focus on socialist and progressive political questions.

• 2025

  Website reports substantial audience growth

  [1]Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The publication reports 500,796 website hits and 95,530 unique visitors in July 2025, alongside readership growth of more than three times over three years.

• 2022

  Cailean Gallagher becomes editor

  [1]Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Cailean Gallagher takes over the magazine's editorship after Gregor Gall's tenure.

• 2014

  Editorial leadership changes from Robin McAlpine to Gregor Gall

  [1]Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  Robin McAlpine's editorship, which began in the early 2000s, ends in mid-2014 and Gregor Gall subsequently becomes editor.

• 2010

  Jimmy Reid Foundation is established

  [1]Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  A related policy and research foundation is created under the name of Scottish trade-unionist and political figure Jimmy Reid.

• 2006

  Scottish Left Review Press is established

  [1]Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation expands into book publishing and later issues the bestselling edited collection Is There a Scottish Road to Socialism?

• 2000

  Scottish Left Review is founded

  [1]Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org

  The bimonthly magazine is established by a group including Bob Thomson, Henry McCubbin, Jimmy Reid, Roseanna Cunningham, and John McAllion.

An independent Scottish left publication and political debate platform serving readers interested in socialism, labour politics, progressive campaigning, public policy, and Scotland's political future.

• Bimonthly political magazine · 2000

  Scottish Left Review magazine

  The core product is a bimonthly magazine publishing political analysis, commentary, and debate from across the Scottish left. It is supported through print subscriptions, advertising from unions and progressive organisations, and reader and supporter donations. The magazine's contributor model includes people from different left parties as well as unaffiliated writers.

• Digital publishing

  Scottish Left Review online publication

  The website extends the magazine's reach beyond its print edition by distributing articles and publication information online. Reported traffic in July 2025 illustrates the importance of the digital channel to the publication's current audience and visibility.

• Political book publishing · 2006

  Scottish Left Review Press

  Established in 2006, the press publishes longer-form political works and edited collections connected to the concerns of the Scottish left. Its best-known referenced publication is Is There a Scottish Road to Socialism?, an edited collection described as a bestseller.

• Policy and research platform · 2010

  Jimmy Reid Foundation

  Established in 2010, the Jimmy Reid Foundation adds a policy and research function to the wider Scottish Left Review publishing ecosystem. It is named after Jimmy Reid and complements the magazine's role as a forum for political discussion.

• 2010

  Create a related policy and research foundationStrategy

  Background

  The organisation expanded its role beyond periodical and book publishing into policy discussion and research.

  Action taken

  It established the Jimmy Reid Foundation.

  Aftermath

  The foundation became a related component of the wider intellectual and policy platform associated with Scottish Left Review.

  Source

• 2006

  Expand from magazine publishing into booksStrategy

  Background

  The organisation sought to develop a longer-form publishing role alongside its bimonthly magazine.

  Action taken

  It established Scottish Left Review Press, which subsequently published political books and edited collections.

  Aftermath

  The press broadened the organisation's publishing footprint and produced the bestselling edited collection Is There a Scottish Road to Socialism?

  Source

1. 1Scottish Left Reviewen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Scottish Left Review official websitescottishleftreview.scot