Editing Tam Dalyell (section)

==Political career==
[[File:After Dark - Arms and the Gulf - 12 January 1991.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Appearing (centre) on ''[[After Dark (TV programme)|After Dark]]'' "[[After Dark (TV series)#"Arms and the Gulf"|Arms and the Gulf]]" in 1991]]
Having been educated by left-wing economists at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], Dalyell said that he became a [[socialist]] because of the level of unemployment in Scotland.<ref name=Guardian_20020413/> He joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1956, following the [[Suez Crisis]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.holyrood.com/articles/inside-politics/tam-dalyell-thatcher-and-how-hed-be-remembered |title=Tam Dalyell on Thatcher and how he'd like to be remembered |first=Mandy |last=Rhodes |work=[[Holyrood (magazine)|Holyrood]] |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202063841/https://www.holyrood.com/articles/inside-politics/tam-dalyell-thatcher-and-how-hed-be-remembered |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> After being unsuccessful as a parliamentary candidate for [[Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles]] in 1959, he became a [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] in June 1962, when he defeated [[William Wolfe]] of the [[Scottish National Party]] in [[1962 West Lothian by-election|a hard-fought by-election]] for [[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]].<ref name="Guardian obituary"/> From 1983 onwards, he represented [[Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency)|Linlithgow]] (when the [[New towns in the United Kingdom|new town]] of Livingston formed its own constituency) and easily retained the seat. He became [[Father of the House]] after the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], when Former Prime Minister [[Edward Heath]] retired from the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2119440.stm |title=Politics: Tam Dalyell |publisher=BBC News |date=22 October 2002 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424030744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2119440.stm |archive-date=24 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a nominated [[Member of the European Parliament]] from 1975 to 1979,<ref name="Guardian obituary"/> and a member of the [[Labour National Executive]] from 1986 to 1987 representing the [[Socialist Campaign Group|Campaign group]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/622 |title=MPs, Lords & offices: MPs: Tam Dalyell |publisher=UK Government |website=parliament.uk |access-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202075752/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/622 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Dalyell's independent stance in Parliament ensured his isolation from significant committees and jobs. His early career was promising and he became [[parliamentary private secretary]] (PPS) to [[Richard Crossman]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2746747.stm |title=Profile: Tam Dalyell |publisher=BBC News |date=10 February 2003 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312182733/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2746747.stm |archive-date=12 March 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> He annoyed a number of ministers and was heavily censured by the [[Committee on Standards and Privileges|Privileges Committee]] for a leak about the biological weapons research establishment, [[Porton Down]],<ref name = "BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3391825.stm|title=Profile: Tam Dalyell|publisher=BBC News|date=13 January 2004|access-date=31 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424030749/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3391825.stm|archive-date=24 April 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> to the newspapers (though he said that he thought the draft minutes of the [[Select Committee on Science and Technology]] were in the [[public domain]]).<ref name=autobio>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNK8BQAAQBAJ |title=The Importance of Being Awkward: The Autobiography of Tam Dalyell |author=Tam Dalyell |publisher=Birlinn |year=2011 |isbn=9780857900753 |access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref>{{rp|110–112}} When Labour were [[1970 United Kingdom general election|defeated in 1970]], his chances of senior office were effectively over. He was opposed to [[Scottish devolution]] and was the first to come up with the "[[West Lothian question]]", although it was actually named by [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP [[Enoch Powell]]. He continued to argue his own causes: in 1978–79, he voted against his own government over 100 times, despite a [[Whip (politics)#Three Line Whip|three-line whip]].<ref name = "BBC"/>

In the 1990s, Dalyell asked the [[Lord Advocate]], [[Lord Rodger of Earlsferry]], to grant diplomatic immunity to [[Lester Coleman]], a co-author of ''[[Trail of the Octopus (book)|Trail of the Octopus]]'', so that he could give evidence in the [[Lockerbie bombing trial]] in Scotland; the [[US Government]] had indictments against Coleman, accusing him of passport fraud and perjury. [[Allan Stewart (politician)|Allan Stewart]], a former [[Scottish Office]] minister and [[Conservative Party (United Kingdom)|Conservative]] MP for [[Eastwood, Scotland|Eastwood]], also said that Coleman should be granted immunity so he could testify in Scotland. The Lord Advocate rejected Dalyell's plea, saying that the Home Office and the English courts had jurisdiction over the demand of the US government's extradition demand regarding Coleman, and that the Crown Office and the Scottish Office had no authority over the case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tinning|first=William|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12093410.Immunity_ruled_out_in_Lockerbie_row__Plea_to_Lord_Advocate_fails_over_former_US_intelligence_agent/|title=Immunity ruled out in Lockerbie row. Plea to Lord Advocate fails over former US intelligence agent|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=4 August 1995|access-date=11 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223092627/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12093410.Immunity_ruled_out_in_Lockerbie_row__Plea_to_Lord_Advocate_fails_over_former_US_intelligence_agent/|archive-date=23 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Dalyell later said, "I had contact with Les Coleman 10 years ago. In my opinion, though he has a chequered history, I take him seriously."<ref>{{cite news|last=McDougall|first=Liam|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/1035634001.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150125161529/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/1035634001.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2015|title=Ex-CIA agents claim they were smeared to cover-up the truth|work=[[The Sunday Herald]]|date=7 May 2006|access-date=10 October 2010}}</ref>

Dalyell was vocal in his disapproval of actions he deemed [[imperialistic]].  Beginning with his opposition to Britain becoming involved in the [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]] in 1965, he contested almost every British military intervention, arguing against Britain's involvement in the [[Aden Emergency]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/fury-of-aden-s-forgotten-soldiers-1-1427743 |title=Fury of Aden's 'forgotten' soldiers |first=Murdo |last=MacLeod |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |date=25 November 2007 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202085716/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/fury-of-aden-s-forgotten-soldiers-1-1427743 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Falklands War]] (especially the sinking of the [[ARA General Belgrano|''General Belgrano'']]), the [[Gulf War]] (where he declared [[Kuwait]] to be "the 19th bloody state of Iraq"),<ref name="BBC Obituary">{{cite news |title=Obituary: Tam Dalyell |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29367988 |access-date=9 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2017}}</ref> the [[Kosovo War]] and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/19/profiles.parliament6 |title=Tam Dalyell |first=Andrew |last=Roth |work=The Guardian |date=19 March 2001 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130075932/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/19/profiles.parliament6 |archive-date=30 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> "I will resist a war with every sinew in my body", he said.<ref name=Guardian_20020413/> Dalyell was also a supporter of the [[Chagossians]] in their campaign to return to [[Diego Garcia]] after being [[Expulsion of the Chagossians|expelled]] in 1968.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1669736.stm |title=MP fights for islanders' rights |publisher=BBC News |date=22 November 2001 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031218231709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1669736.stm |archive-date=18 December 2003 |url-status=live }}</ref> When invited by a television journalist to rank [[Tony Blair]] among the eight Prime Ministers he had observed as a [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|parliamentarian]], he cited Blair's policies in Kosovo and Iraq as reasons for placing his party leader at the bottom of the list. He was also a strong presence in Parliament concerning [[Libya]] and led no fewer than 17 [[adjournment debate]]s on the [[Lockerbie bombing]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2005-01-19.266.0&s=galloway|title=Lockerbie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2005-01-19a.266.0 |title=Lockerbie |publisher=They Work For You website 19 January 2005 |access-date=31 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903121408/http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2005-01-19a.266.0 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> in which he repeatedly demanded answers by the Government to the reports of [[Hans Köchler]], United Nations observer at the Lockerbie trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.com/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020501/debtext/20501-03.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 1 May 2002 (pt 3)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930013846/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.com/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020501/debtext/20501-03.htm|archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref>

In February 2003, he became the first Father of the House to be ordered to leave the chamber, after asking questions about the government's "dossier" on weapons in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/feb/10/houseofcommons.uk |title=Father of the House Given Marching Orders |first=Matthew |last=Tempest |work=The Guardian |date=10 February 2003 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202125347/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/feb/10/houseofcommons.uk |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following his outspoken opposition to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and criticism of the Government, [[Government of the United Kingdom|Downing Street]] suggested that he might face withdrawal of the [[New Labour|Labour]] [[whip (politics)|whip]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/07/uk.iraq |title=Galloway and Dalyell Face Loss of Whip |first1=Patrick |last1=Wintour |first2=Sarah |last2=Hall |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2003 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155039/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/07/uk.iraq |archive-date=27 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May, the American magazine ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' reported Dalyell indirectly as having said that Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] was unduly influenced by a "cabal of Jewish advisers".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/dalyell-zionist-cabal-runs-policy-on-israel-1-1385178 |title=Dalyell: 'Zionist Cabal Runs Policy on Israel' |first=Brian |last=Brady |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |date=4 May 2003 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131193345/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/dalyell-zionist-cabal-runs-policy-on-israel-1-1385178 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> He specifically named [[Lord Levy]], who was Blair's official representative in the Middle East, and Labour politicians [[Peter Mandelson]] (whose father was Jewish) and [[Jack Straw]] (whose great-grandfather was Jewish). Mandelson said that "apart from the fact that I am [[Who is a Jew?#Jewish by birth|not actually Jewish]], I wear my father's parentage with pride".<ref>{{cite news|title =Fury as Dalyell Attacks Blair's 'Jewish Cabal'|url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/04/ndaly04.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/05/04/ixportaltop.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071115200404/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F05%2F04%2Fndaly04.xml&sSheet=%2Fportal%2F2003%2F05%2F04%2Fixportaltop.html|archive-date =15 November 2007|date =4 May 2003|access-date =13 April 2008|work =The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url-status =dead}}</ref> Dalyell denied accusations that the remarks were [[anti-Semitic]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/05/iraq.politics |title=Dalyell May Face Race Hatred Inquiry |first=Nicholas |last=Watt |work=The Guardian |date=5 May 2003 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155037/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/05/iraq.politics |archive-date=27 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2999219.stm |title=Dalyell's 'Jewish Cabal' Remarks Denied |publisher=BBC News |date=4 May 2003 |access-date=18 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726032213/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2999219.stm |archive-date=26 July 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/06/race.politics |title=Dalyell Steps Up Attack on Levy |first=Michael |last=White |work=The Guardian |date=6 May 2003 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119111223/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/06/race.politics |archive-date=19 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2003, regarding the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], Dalyell accused Blair of being a war criminal. He stated that "since Mr Blair is going ahead with his support for a US attack without unambiguous UN authorisation, he should be branded as a war criminal and sent to [[International Criminal Court|The Hague]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/mar/27/labour.iraq |title=Blair, the War Criminal |first=Tam |last=Dalyell |work=The Guardian |date=27 March 2003 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155040/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/mar/27/labour.iraq |archive-date=27 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 March 2003, Dalyell was elected as [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/mar/10/highereducation.students |title=Dalyell Becomes Next Edinburgh Rector |first=Polly |last=Curtis |date=10 March 2003 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202124844/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/mar/10/highereducation.students |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a three-year term, he was succeeded in 2006 by [[Mark Ballard]]. It was announced on 13 January 2004 that Dalyell would not seek re-election as an MP at the next general election,<ref name="BBC 13Jan2004"/> and he left the House of Commons [[2005 United Kingdom general election|in April 2005]] after 43 years as a Member of Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/29/uk.interviews |title=Tam Dalyell, Parliament's Great Dissenter, Leaves the Field After 40 Years of Battle |first=Michael |last=White |work=The Guardian |date=29 March 2005 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155024/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/29/uk.interviews |archive-date=27 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> He had been Scotland's longest-serving MP since the resignation of [[Bruce Millan]] in 1988. He was succeeded as [[Father of the House]] by [[Alan Williams (Swansea West MP)|Alan Williams]]. In 2009, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that Dalyell had submitted an expenses claim for £18,000 for three bookcases just two months before his retirement from the House of Commons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8053084.stm |title=Labour MP Suspended Over Expenses |publisher=BBC News |date=16 May 2009 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518200226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8053084.stm |archive-date=18 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dalyell claimed that this was a legitimate expense to which he was entitled;<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8053240.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=MP 'Relaxed' About Bookcase Claim | date=16 May 2009 | access-date=16 May 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519112337/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8053240.stm | archive-date=19 May 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> the House of Commons' Fees Office released £7,800.

Dalyell was given an honorary doctorate by [[Heriot-Watt University]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=http://www.hw.ac.uk/news/archive/2011/heriot-watt-honorary-graduates-november-2011.htm|title=Heriot-Watt University Honorary Graduates, November 2011|publisher=Heriot-Watt University|date=23 November 2011|access-date=29 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305060629/http://www.hw.ac.uk/news/archive/2011/heriot-watt-honorary-graduates-november-2011.htm|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>