National Politics in East Lothian

Ewen A Cameron

Mackintosh was immensely buoyed by his victory and looked forward to a parliament which would deal with issues close to his heart: devolution and the European question. His rebellious streak emerged most clearly in this final phase of his political career, most famously his departure, with Brian Walden, from the floor of the House of Commons prior to an important vote on the Dock Labour Bill in 1976, leaving the government to face defeat (Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th Series, volume 919, columns 581-92; Norton, P., 1980 p436). His enthusiasm for the Common Market and his evangelical commitment to devolution meant that he was often critical of the government, especially what he perceived to be its lukewarm support for the latter. Indeed, by 1978 he had become almost semi-detached from his party and from Parliament, a status symbolised by his acceptance of a Chair of Politics at the University of Edinburgh in 1978 (Duckenfield, M. 1978 p13). His death in 1978 was the moment for wide appreciation of his political career as well as a feeling that his individualism had excluded him from the high office merited by his ability

| Home | County Volume | Parish Volume | Contact | History | About |

© 2004 Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian Society