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Description
This piece is part of a series I'm working on for the website of the Scottish National Mining Museum. Hopefully the rest will be up soon once I stop procrastinating.
Born in the mining community of Newhouse Scotland in 1856 Keir Hardie was a fascinating figure, both a deeply traditional and religiously minded man but also a radical figure who would go on to found the Independent Labour Party, from which the modern day Labour Party would grow. At a time when Scotland was struggling with class conflict and ethnic tensions between Highlanders, Lowlanders and Irish immigrants he offered a sense of solidarity between the working classes that transcended these political boundaries. He was no saint and had some less than flattering things to say about the Irish in particular, but his vision of inclusive solidarity left a profound and lasting impact on Scottish identify which I am deeply proud off.

But he was also a gross beardy weirdo who dressed like a tramp.

The fellows with the claymore and axe are the mine owners who often found themselves in conflict during much of the 19th century. I may have embellished the magnitude of this a smidge.

Description
This piece is part of a series I'm working on for the website of the Scottish National Mining Museum. Hopefully the rest will be up soon once I stop procrastinating.
Born in the mining community of Newhouse Scotland in 1856 Keir Hardie was a fascinating figure, both a deeply traditional and religiously minded man but also a radical figure who would go on to found the Independent Labour Party, from which the modern day Labour Party would grow. At a time when Scotland was struggling with class conflict and ethnic tensions between Highlanders, Lowlanders and Irish immigrants he offered a sense of solidarity between the working classes that transcended these political boundaries. He was no saint and had some less than flattering things to say about the Irish in particular, but his vision of inclusive solidarity left a profound and lasting impact on Scottish identify which I am deeply proud off.

But he was also a gross beardy weirdo who dressed like a tramp.

The fellows with the claymore and axe are the mine owners who often found themselves in conflict during much of the 19th century. I may have embellished the magnitude of this a smidge.