Red Clydeside: A history of the labour movement in Glasgow 1910-1932

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Tom Bell, pioneer of the socialist movement on Clydeside, 1914-1919

Tom Bell was a pioneer of the socialist movement on Clydeside and an early member of the Social Democratic Federation, a political party who advocated a revolutionary alliance of Marxism and syndicalism. Bell later joined the Socialist Labour Party (SLP) and, along with William Gallagher, became one of the SLP's leading members.

Tom Bell was also one of the leaders of the CWC as well as president of the Scottish Ironmoulders' Union and leader of the 1920 Moulders' strike, which was successful in obtaining a wage rise for the whole of the engineering industry.

Tom Bell played an influential role in setting up the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1920 and went on to play an influential role within the CPGB until his death in 1944.

Source: Gallacher Memorial Library, Glasgow Caledonian University Special Collections and Archives