Robert Allan

Robert Allan was a Scottish trade unionist who served as leader of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC). Allan worked as a compositor in Edinburgh, and joined the Social Democratic Federation. He was active in the Scottish Typographical Association (STA) and the Edinburgh Trades Council. He attended the STUC from its foundation, always taking a prominent part in debates. Allan was first elected to the General Council of the STUC in 1899, and on the council he championed the creation of a Scottish Labour Representation Committee, to stand Parliamentary candidates on behalf of the socialist, trade union and co-operative movements. This was formed as the Scottish Workers' Representation Committee, and Allan became its first secretary, although in 1902 he was replaced by leader of the STUC, George Carson. In 1913, Allan stood to become general secretary of the STA, but he took third place with only 581 votes, behind Charles Jackson and the winner, James Brown. He was re-elected to the Parliamentary Committee of the STUC in 1912, and in this role gave some support to the Red Clydeside movement, arguing that its actions were "hasty and unwise", but that the committee should not ignore it, but instead try to give it guidance.