Editing Tam Dalyell

{{Short description|Scottish politician (1932–2017)}}
{{For|the 17th century Scottish general|Tam Dalyell of the Binns}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Sir
| name= Tam Dalyell
| honorific-suffix = [[Baronet|Bt]] [[Royal Scottish Geographical Society|FRSGS]]
| image        = Tam Dalyell 1991.jpg
| caption      = Dalyell on [[After Dark (TV series)|''After Dark'']] in 1991
| office       = [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh|Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh]]
| term_start   = 7 March 2003
| term_end     = 15 February 2006
| majority     = 
| predecessor  = [[Robin Harper]]
| successor    = [[Mark Ballard]]
| office1      = [[Father of the House (United Kingdom)|Father of the House of Commons]]
| 1blankname1 = Speaker
| 1namedata1 = [[Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn|Michael Martin]]
| term_start1  = 7 June 2001
| term_end1    = 11 April 2005
| primeminister1=
| predecessor1 = [[Edward Heath]]
| successor1   = [[Alan Williams (Swansea West MP)|Alan Williams]]
| office2     = Member of Parliament<br /> for [[Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency)|Linlithgow]]<br />{{nobold|[[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]] (1962–1983)}}
| majority2    =
| term_start2  = 14 June 1962
| term_end2    = 11 April 2005
| predecessor2 = [[John Taylor (West Lothian MP)|John Taylor]]
| successor2   = ''Constituency abolished''
| birth_name   = Thomas Dalyell Loch
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1932|8|9|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2017|1|26|1932|8|9|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[West Lothian]], Scotland
| nationality  = 
| party        = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| otherparty   =
| spouse       = {{marriage|Kathleen Wheatley|1963}}
| children     = 2
| education    = [[Eton College]]
| alma_mater   = [[King's College, Cambridge]]
| branch       = [[Royal Scots Greys]]<br />[[British Army]]
| battles      = 
| serviceyears = 1950–1952
| rank         = [[Trooper (rank)|Trooper]]
}}
'''Sir Thomas Dalyell, 11th Baronet''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRSGS }} ({{IPAc-en|audio=Dalziel.ogg|d|i|ˈ|ɛ|l}} {{respell|dee|EL}}; 9 August 1932 – 26 January 2017), known as '''Tam Dalyell''', was a Scottish politician who served as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency)|Linlithgow]] (formerly [[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]]) from 1962 to 2005. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], he was best known for formulating what came to be known as the "[[West Lothian question]]", on whether non-English MPs should be able to vote upon English-only matters after [[political devolution]]. He was also known for his anti-war views, opposing the [[Falklands War]], the [[Gulf War]], the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] and the [[Iraq War]].

==Early life and career==

Dalyell was born in [[Edinburgh]],<ref>Loch, Percy Gordon (1934) The Family Loch, privately printed, p. 202.</ref> and raised in the family home of his mother [[Eleanor Dalyell]], [[the Binns]], near [[Linlithgow]], West Lothian; his father [[Gordon Dalyell of the Binns|Gordon Loch]] [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]] (1887–1953) was a [[British Empire|colonial]] civil servant and a scion of the [[Loch (surname)|Loch family]]. [[Highland Clearances]] facilitator [[James Loch]] (1780–1855) was an ancestral uncle. Loch (and his son) took his wife's surname in 1938, and through his mother Dalyell inherited the [[Dalyell baronets|baronetcy of Dalyell]],<ref name="Guardian obituary">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/26/tam-dalyell-obituary |title=Tam Dalyell obituary |first=Brian |last=Wilson |work=The Guardian |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126232415/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/26/tam-dalyell-obituary |archive-date=26 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> but he never used the title.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29367988 |title=Obituary: Tam Dalyell |publisher=BBC News |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126202455/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29367988 |archive-date=26 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Dalyell was educated at the [[Edinburgh Academy]] and [[Eton College]].<ref name="Independent obituary">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tam-dalyell-dies-obituary-campaigning-scottish-labour-mp-who-was-far-too-inquisitive-for-his-own-a7548241.html |title=Tam Dalyell obituary: Campaigning Scottish Labour MP who was 'far too inquisitive for his own good' |first=James |last=Fergusson |work=The Independent |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126195621/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tam-dalyell-dies-obituary-campaigning-scottish-labour-mp-who-was-far-too-inquisitive-for-his-own-a7548241.html |archive-date=26 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> He did his [[national service]] with the [[Royal Scots Greys]] from 1950 to 1952, as an ordinary [[Trooper (rank)|trooper]], after failing his officer training. He then went to [[King's College, Cambridge]], to study mathematics, but switched to history. He became chairman of the [[Cambridge University Conservative Association]] and vice-president of the [[Cambridge Union Society]].<ref name="BBC 13Jan2004">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3391737.stm |title=Dalyell to step down at election |publisher=BBC News |date=13 January 2004 |access-date=13 January 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040303125709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3391737.stm |archive-date=3 March 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=autobio/>{{rp|63}} Cambridge economist [[Joan Robinson]] encouraged him to stay for a year after completing his history degree to take an additional degree in economics, which he did and later described as "the hardest work I ever did, much harder than being a [[Parliamentary private secretary|PPS]]".<ref name=Guardian_20020413>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/apr/13/foreignpolicy.politics | title = Heckling for Britain | author = Andrew Brown | date = 13 April 2002 | newspaper = [[theguardian.com|Guardian online]] | access-date = 26 January 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155045/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/apr/13/foreignpolicy.politics | archive-date = 27 January 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref> He then trained as a teacher at [[Moray House College]] in Edinburgh and taught at [[Bo'ness Academy]] for three years,<ref name="Independent obituary"/> and was Director of Studies on the ship school ''[[Dunera]]'' from 1961 to 1962.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v04/n09/tam-dalyell/a-falklands-polemic |title=A Falklands Polemic |first=Tam |last=Dalyell |journal=[[London Review of Books]] |volume=4 |issue=9 |date=20 May 1982 |page=17 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910221542/http://www.lrb.co.uk/v04/n09/tam-dalyell/a-falklands-polemic |archive-date=10 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/the-way-i-was-master-of-the-ship-school-dorm-tam-dalyell-1556569.html |title=The Way I Was: Master of the ship school dorm: Tam Dalyell |first=Nicholas |last=Roe |work=The Independent |date=9 October 1992 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202084620/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/the-way-i-was-master-of-the-ship-school-dorm-tam-dalyell-1556569.html |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1969 Dalyell became a columnist for ''[[New Scientist]]'' magazine,<ref>{{cite news | magazine = [[New Scientist]] | url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625002.200-tam-dalyell-the-end-of-an-era-at-new-scientist.html | date = 21 May 2005 | author = Tam Dalyell | title = The End of an Era at ''New Scientist'' | issue = 2500 | access-date = 15 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150705013254/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625002.200-tam-dalyell-the-end-of-an-era-at-new-scientist.html | archive-date = 5 July 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref> contributing ''Westminster Scene'' (later ''Westminster Diary'') until his retirement in 2005. This provided "a conduit for researchers to speak to Parliament and ''vice versa''", covering many subjects of public concern including industrial diseases, data protection, chemical weapons and the environment.<ref>{{cite news | magazine= [[New Scientist]] | url= https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625004.000-editorial-columnist-tam-dalyell-retires.html | date= 21 May 2005 | title= Editorial: Columnist Tam Dalyell retires | issue= 2500 | access-date= 15 September 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150705003828/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18625004.000-editorial-columnist-tam-dalyell-retires.html | archive-date= 5 July 2015 | url-status= live }}</ref>

==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>

==Personal life and death==
[[File:Bust of Tam Dalyell.jpg|thumb|Bust of Tam Dalyell]]
[[File:House of the Binns - geograph.org.uk - 225568.jpg|thumb|[[House of the Binns]]]]
Dalyell married Kathleen Wheatley, a teacher, on 26 December 1963;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birlinn.co.uk/blog/a-tribute-to-tony-benn/ |title=A Tribute to Tony Benn (From Parliament: The 1960s in The Importance of Being Awkward by Tam Dalyell) |work=Birlinn Books Blog |publisher=birlinn.co.uk |date=14 March 2014 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202200536/http://www.birlinn.co.uk/blog/a-tribute-to-tony-benn/ |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> she was the elder daughter of [[John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley|John Wheatley]], Lord Advocate and Labour MP for East Edinburgh.<ref name="Independent obituary"/> They have a son Gordon Wheatley Dalyell,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/Curr%20Scots%20Barts.htm|title=Current Nova Scotia Baronetcies|access-date=12 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203003/http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/Curr%20Scots%20Barts.htm|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and a daughter Moira, both of whom are lawyers. In his retirement, and for some years previously, he contributed obituaries to ''[[The Independent]]''.<ref name="Independent obituary"/> In 2011 he published his autobiography, ''The Importance of Being Awkward''. The dedication is "To the men and women of West Lothian – Labour, SNP, Conservative, Liberal, Communist – who, whatever their political opinions, were kind to me in all sorts of ways over 43 years as their representative in the House of Commons."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alexwood.org.uk/2012/03/an-interview-with-tam-dalyell/ |title=An Interview with Tam Dalyell |website=alexwood.org.uk |date=18 March 2012 |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202032745/http://www.alexwood.org.uk/2012/03/an-interview-with-tam-dalyell/ |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Dalyell died at the [[House of the Binns]] on 26 January 2017, at the age of 84, following a brief, undisclosed illness.<ref name="Independent obituary"/><ref name = Torrance>{{cite ODNB|title = Sir Thomas [Tam], eleventh baronet (1932–2017), politician|doi = 10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380204|last = Torrance|first = David|year = 2021}}</ref>

===Arms===
{{Infobox COA wide
|image={{center|[[File:Arms of Gordon Dalyell of the Binns.svg|150px|centre]]}}
|escutcheon = Quarterly: 1 and 4, Sable a naked man his arms extended proper on a canton argent a sword and pistol disposed in saltire also proper ''(Dalziel of Binns)''; 2, Or a saltire engrailed sable between two swans proper naiant in fess undy azure and argent and in chief point a mullet gules for difference ''(Loch of Drylaw)''; 3, Or a bend checquy sable and argent between three buckles azure ''(Menteith of Auldcathie)''.
|coronet = 
|crest = A dexter arms issuant from the wreath the hands grasping a scimitar proper hilted and pommelled or. 
|supporters =Two lions sejant guardant Gules armed and langued azure each supporting with its interior forepaws a pavilion pole sable with rosette and pennon spike garnished or, the pennon argent with the tails of the same and sable is charged with a sword and pistol in saltire proper.
|motto = Above the shield: '''I Dare''' <br>Below the shield: '''For Right & Reason''' 
|symbolism = The origin of this peculiar arms was written about by [[Sir Robert Douglas, 6th Baronet]], in 1764: <br>The account of their origin, given by [[Alexander Nisbet|Mr. Nisbet]], and other historians, is, that in the reign of King [[Kenneth II]], a kinsman, and favourite of that king, being taken prisoner by the [[Picts]], was put to death, and hung up upon a gallows in view of the Scotch camp. King Kenneth being highly provoked and incensed at the affront, offered a considerable reward to any of his subjects who would take down, and carry off the corpse; but, for some time, none would venture to undertake the dangerous enterprise. At last, a gentleman of more spirit and courage than the rest, said ''"dal zell"'', which, in the old Scotch language, signifies, 'I dare'. He effectually performed it to the king's satisfaction, who accordingly rewarded him nobly. His posterity assumed the word DALZELL for their surname, and that remarkable bearing of a man hanging on a gallows for their arms, with I dare for their motto, in memory of the above brave action, though they now bear only a naked man proper.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/peerageofscotlan00doug |title=The peerage of Scotland : containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, from their origin to the present generation: collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, the charters, and other writings of the nobility, and the works of our best historians ... |last=Douglas |first=Robert |date=1764 |publisher=Edinburgh : Printed by R. Fleming}}</ref>
|notes = 
}}

== Bibliography ==
* ''The Case of Ship-Schools'' (1960), {{OCLC|851703328}}
* ''Ship-School Dunera'' (1963), {{OCLC|774519818}}
* ''Devolution: The End of Britain?'' (1977), {{ISBN|9780224015592}}
* ''One Man's Falklands'' (1982), {{ISBN|9780900821653}}
* ''A Science Policy for Britain'' (1983), {{ISBN|9780582902572}}
* ''Thatcher's Torpedo'' (1983), {{ISBN|9780900821677}}
* ''Misrule'' (1987), {{ISBN|9780241121702}}
* ''Dick Crossman: A Portrait'' (1989), {{ISBN|9780297796701}}
* ''The Importance of Being Awkward: The Autobiography of Tam Dalyell'' (2011), {{ISBN|9780857900753}}
*''The Question of Scotland ~ Devolution and After'' (2016), {{ISBN|9781780273686}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Scotland|Biography}}
* [[Hans Köchler's Lockerbie trial observer mission]]
* [[The Maltese Double Cross – Lockerbie]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/9/resources/1863 The Papers of Tam Dalyell] at the [https://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/ Churchill Archives Centre]
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-tam-dalyell | Tam Dalyell  }}
* [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10152/tam_dalyell/linlithgow Tam Dalyell, former MP Linlithgow] on www.theyworkforyou.com
* [https://www.newscientist.com/search/?q=Dalyell Westminster Diary: Tam Dalyell Column] from [[New Scientist]] magazine
* [https://mrc.epexio.com/records/DAL Catalogue of Dalyell's papers, mostly collected while PPS to Richard Crossman], held at the [[Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick]]

{{S-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef  | before = [[John Taylor (West Lothian MP)|John Taylor]] }}
{{s-ttl
  | title  = Member of Parliament for [[West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|West Lothian]]
  | years  = [[1962 West Lothian by-election|1962]]–[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
}}
{{s-non | rows=2 | reason = Constituency abolished }}

{{s-new | constituency}}
{{s-ttl
  | title  = Member of Parliament for [[Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency)|Linlithgow]]
  | years  = [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]–[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Edward Heath]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Father of the House]]|years=2001–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alan Williams (Swansea West MP)|Alan Williams]]}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robin Harper]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Rector of the University of Edinburgh]]|years=2003–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mark Ballard]]}}
{{s-reg|sct-bt}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Nora Dalyell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Dalyell baronets|Baronet]]<br />'''(of Binns)|years='''1972–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gordon Dalyell]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Fathers of the House}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalyell, Tam}}
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