A FEARLESS campaigner who devoted her life to social justice has been honoured.
A plaque has been unveiled in honour of Mary Barbour, who was Glasgow’s first female, Labour councillor.

She also led city-wide protests against unscrupulous and opportunist private landlords, who were imposing large rent increases on vulnerable families whose men were overseas fighting in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled at 10 Hutton Drive in Linthouse, believed to be the site where, in 1915, the first rent strike demonstration took place.

On November 17, more than 20,000 households across Glasgow staged the largest demonstrations ever seen in the city.

Along with thousands of engineering and shipyard workers Mrs Barbour’s army of housewife’s marched and converged on Glasgow’s Sheriff courts. 

Many held placards emblazoned with the words: “Rent strikers. We are not removing!”

The campaigners later celebrated a monumental victory.

The peaceful demonstration resulted in Lloyd George’s coalition Government intervening and pushing through the Rent Restrictions Act 1915, setting rents for the duration of the war and six months to follow at pre-war levels.

In 1920 Mary Barbour was elected onto Glasgow Town Council to become the first woman Labour councillor. 

Her selfless campaigning and support for issues affecting working class and poor families continued and she fought for a number of causes including an end to slum housing, free milk for school children, child welfare, play area’s and municipal wash-houses.

Irene Campbell CEO of Linthouse Housing Association said: “She was an ordinary woman with extraordinary values, whose fearless determination brought about unprecedented changes that improved the lives of so many people.”