Tam Dalyell

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For the 17th century Scottish general, see Tam Dalyell of the Binns.

Sir
Tam Dalyell
After Dark in 1991
Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh
In office
7 March 2003 – 15 February 2006
Preceded byRobin Harper
Succeeded byMark Ballard
Father of the House of Commons
In office
7 June 2001 – 11 April 2005
SpeakerMichael Martin
Preceded byEdward Heath
Succeeded byAlan Williams
Member of Parliament
for Linlithgow
West Lothian (1962–1983)
In office
14 June 1962 – 11 April 2005
Preceded byJohn Taylor
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
Thomas Dalyell Loch

(1932-08-09)9 August 1932
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died26 January 2017(2017-01-26) (aged 84)
West Lothian, Scotland
Political partyLabour
Spouse
Kathleen Wheatley
​
(m. 1963)​
Children2
EducationEton College
Alma materKing's College, Cambridge
Military service
Branch/serviceRoyal Scots Greys
British Army
Years of service1950–1952
RankTrooper

Sir Thomas Dalyell, 11th Baronet

political devolution. He was also known for his anti-war views, opposing the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War
.

Early life and career

Dalyell was born in

the Binns, near Linlithgow, West Lothian; his father Gordon Loch CIE (1887–1953) was a colonial civil servant and a scion of the 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 baronetcy of Dalyell,[2] but he never used the title.[3]

Dalyell was educated at the

Dunera from 1961 to 1962.[8][9]

In 1969 Dalyell became a columnist for New Scientist magazine,[10] 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.[11]

Political career

Arms and the Gulf
" in 1991

Having been educated by left-wing economists at

Labour National Executive from 1986 to 1987 representing the Campaign group.[14]

Dalyell's independent stance in Parliament ensured his isolation from significant committees and jobs. His early career was promising and he became

Select Committee on Science and Technology were in the public domain).[6]: 110–112  When Labour were 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 MP Enoch Powell. He continued to argue his own causes: in 1978–79, he voted against his own government over 100 times, despite a three-line whip.[16]

In the 1990s, Dalyell asked the

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.[17] 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."[18]

Dalyell was vocal in his disapproval of actions he deemed

Lockerbie bombing,[23][24] in which he repeatedly demanded answers by the Government to the reports of Hans Köchler, United Nations observer at the Lockerbie trial.[25]

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.

anti-Semitic.[30][31][32] 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 The Hague".[33]

On 7 March 2003, Dalyell was elected as Rector of the University of Edinburgh.[34] 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,[5] and he left the House of Commons in April 2005 after 43 years as a Member of Parliament.[35] 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. 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.[36] Dalyell claimed that this was a legitimate expense to which he was entitled;[37] the House of Commons' Fees Office released £7,800.

Dalyell was given an honorary doctorate by Heriot-Watt University in 2011.[38]

Personal life and death

Bust of Tam Dalyell
House of the Binns

Dalyell married Kathleen Wheatley, a teacher, on 26 December 1963;[39] she was the elder daughter of John Wheatley, Lord Advocate and Labour MP for East Edinburgh.[4] They have a son Gordon Wheatley Dalyell,[40] and a daughter Moira, both of whom are lawyers. In his retirement, and for some years previously, he contributed obituaries to The Independent.[4] 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."[41]

Dalyell died at the House of the Binns on 26 January 2017, at the age of 84, following a brief, undisclosed illness.[4][42]

Arms

Coat of arms of Tam Dalyell
Crest
A dexter arms issuant from the wreath the hands grasping a scimitar proper hilted and pommelled or.
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).
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
Below the shield: For Right & Reason
Symbolism
The origin of this peculiar arms was written about by
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.[43]

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

References

  1. ^ Loch, Percy Gordon (1934) The Family Loch, privately printed, p. 202.
  2. ^ a b c Wilson, Brian (26 January 2017). "Tam Dalyell obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Obituary: Tam Dalyell". BBC News. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Fergusson, James (26 January 2017). "Tam Dalyell obituary: Campaigning Scottish Labour MP who was 'far too inquisitive for his own good'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Dalyell to step down at election". BBC News. 13 January 2004. Archived from the original on 3 March 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2004.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9780857900753
    . Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  7. ^
    Guardian online. Archived
    from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. ^ Dalyell, Tam (20 May 1982). "A Falklands Polemic". London Review of Books. 4 (9): 17. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  9. ^ Roe, Nicholas (9 October 1992). "The Way I Was: Master of the ship school dorm: Tam Dalyell". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  10. ^ Tam Dalyell (21 May 2005). "The End of an Era at New Scientist". New Scientist. No. 2500. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Editorial: Columnist Tam Dalyell retires". New Scientist. No. 2500. 21 May 2005. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  12. ^ Rhodes, Mandy (26 January 2017). "Tam Dalyell on Thatcher and how he'd like to be remembered". Holyrood. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  13. ^ "Politics: Tam Dalyell". BBC News. 22 October 2002. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  14. ^ "MPs, Lords & offices: MPs: Tam Dalyell". parliament.uk. UK Government. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Profile: Tam Dalyell". BBC News. 10 February 2003. Archived from the original on 12 March 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Profile: Tam Dalyell". BBC News. 13 January 2004. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  17. ^ Tinning, William (4 August 1995). "Immunity ruled out in Lockerbie row. Plea to Lord Advocate fails over former US intelligence agent". The Herald. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  18. The Sunday Herald. Archived from the original
    on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  19. ^ MacLeod, Murdo (25 November 2007). "Fury of Aden's 'forgotten' soldiers". Scotland on Sunday. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Obituary: Tam Dalyell". BBC News. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  21. ^ Roth, Andrew (19 March 2001). "Tam Dalyell". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  22. ^ "MP fights for islanders' rights". BBC News. 22 November 2001. Archived from the original on 18 December 2003. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  23. ^ "Lockerbie".
  24. ^ "Lockerbie". They Work For You website 19 January 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  25. ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 1 May 2002 (pt 3)". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011.
  26. ^ Tempest, Matthew (10 February 2003). "Father of the House Given Marching Orders". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  27. ^ Wintour, Patrick; Hall, Sarah (7 April 2003). "Galloway and Dalyell Face Loss of Whip". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  28. ^ Brady, Brian (4 May 2003). "Dalyell: 'Zionist Cabal Runs Policy on Israel'". Scotland on Sunday. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  29. ^ "Fury as Dalyell Attacks Blair's 'Jewish Cabal'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 4 May 2003. Archived from the original on 15 November 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  30. ^ Watt, Nicholas (5 May 2003). "Dalyell May Face Race Hatred Inquiry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  31. ^ "Dalyell's 'Jewish Cabal' Remarks Denied". BBC News. 4 May 2003. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  32. ^ White, Michael (6 May 2003). "Dalyell Steps Up Attack on Levy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  33. ^ Dalyell, Tam (27 March 2003). "Blair, the War Criminal". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  34. ^ Curtis, Polly (10 March 2003). "Dalyell Becomes Next Edinburgh Rector". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  35. ^ White, Michael (29 March 2005). "Tam Dalyell, Parliament's Great Dissenter, Leaves the Field After 40 Years of Battle". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  36. ^ "Labour MP Suspended Over Expenses". BBC News. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  37. ^ "MP 'Relaxed' About Bookcase Claim". BBC News. 16 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  38. ^ "Heriot-Watt University Honorary Graduates, November 2011" (Press release). Heriot-Watt University. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  39. ^ "A Tribute to Tony Benn (From Parliament: The 1960s in The Importance of Being Awkward by Tam Dalyell)". birlinn.co.uk. 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  40. ^ "Current Nova Scotia Baronetcies". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  41. ^ "An Interview with Tam Dalyell". alexwood.org.uk. 18 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  42. doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380204. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  43. ^ Douglas, Robert (1764). 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 ... Edinburgh : Printed by R. Fleming.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for West Lothian
1962–1983 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Linlithgow
1983–2005
Preceded by Father of the House
2001–2005 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Rector of the University of Edinburgh
2003–2006 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by Baronet
(of Binns)
1972–2017 		Succeeded by
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