[3] Wilkie was known for his work in the Labour movement serving as general secretary of the Ship Constructive and Shipwrights Association.

He helped to form the Labour Representation Committee and visited the United States as a member of the Mosely Commission in 1902.

[6] He also contributed to The Tocsin, a monthly periodical that backed the Labour Party in Dundee and was edited by Joseph Lee.

In Wilkie's case, that reflected both the fact that his political views had moved to the right since 1914 as well as his support for British involvement in the Great War.

[7][8] The Glasgow Herald noted in 1918 that Wilkie had "never been regarded as a rabid socialist" and had won support from many Liberal voters in the past because of his "moderate" opinions.