[1] Future MP Alexander MacDonald of the miners played an important role, but did not hold any prominent post, and was able to attend only as an honorary member of the Flint Glass Makers' Sick and Friendly Society.
[4] This experience led the council to support Keir Hardie's candidature at the Mid Lanarkshire by-election, 1888; it supported but did not affiliate to Hardie's Scottish Labour Party, and played a central role in establishing the Scottish United Trades Councils Labour Party.
[4] This led to suspicion of the body on Red Clydeside, and the Clyde Workers' Committee did not engage with the council.
[9] However, following World War I, the Communist Party of Great Britain became strong on the council, which affiliated to the National Minority Movement, leading some trade unions to withdraw.
[10] In 1951, the council refused to obey an STUC order not to support CPGB-led peace campaign.