John Mackintosh

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John Pitcairn Mackintosh (24 August 1929 - 30 July 1978) was a British Labour Party politician known for his defense of devolution and the concept of dual nationality; that Scots could be both Scottish and British.

Mackintosh was born In Simla, India, and brought up in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at Melville College, the University of Edinburgh, Balliol College, Oxford and Princeton University. He was senior lecturer in government at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria 1961-63, and became Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde.

Mackintosh contested Edinburgh Pentlands in 1959 and Berwick and East Lothian in 1964. He was elected Member of Parliament for Berwick and East Lothian in 1966. In the February 1974 general election against the national trend, he lost his seat to the Conservative Michael Ancram, but regained it in the October 1974 election.

Later in his life Mackintosh became Chair and Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, where he managed to balance his duties in the House of Commons with teaching students, a role he enjoyed. He was a strong supporter formal lectures and would deliver his remarks written out all in longhand. This style of presentation did his students no harm. Mackintosh taught an introductory undergraduate course on political philosophy in 20 lectures. At the end of this series on philosophy the students gave him a standing ovation.

Mackintosh wrote widely in the academic press and also for the educated general reader. He first wrote on devolution in 1966, publishing, "The Devloution of Power." His most famous book was "The British Cabinet," published in 1968.

Mackintosh had a regular column in The Times and The Scotsman newpapers. Mackintosh was an accomplished broadcaster and lecturer, appearing regularly on television and giving public lectures.

Mackintosh was also the Editor of The Political Quarterly, and Chairman of the Hansard Society.

Mackintosh died in office in 1978, aged 48. His successor in the resulting by-election was John Home Robertson.

Mackintosh was a dedicated constituency MP. His agent, Gerald O'Brian, recalled at his memorial service that Mackintosh, "only once lost his temper with me when I caused him to miss a constituency General Management Committee meeting -- it was the only one he ever missed." He was extremely fond of East Lothian and is buried in the church yard in Gifford.

Mackintosh was a fierce proponent of devolution to Scotland. He famously said in the House of Commons in 1976 : "People in Scotland want a degree of government for themselves. It is not beyond the wit of man to devise the institutions to meet these demands." This quote is engraved on the threshold of the Donald Dewar Room at Holyrood. [1]

An annual memorial lecture is held, alternating between East Lothian and Edinburgh University. Past speakers have included: Jack McConnell, MSP, First Minister of Scotland; John Kenneth Galbraith; Niel Kinnock MP; John Smith MP; Donald Dewar MSP, First Minister of Scotland; and Gordon Brown MP, among others.

[edit] References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons October 1974
• This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by William Anstruther-Gray	Member of Parliament for Berwick and East Lothian 1964–Feb 1974	Succeeded by Michael Ancram
Preceded by Michael Ancram	Member of Parliament for Berwick and East Lothian Oct 1974–1978	Succeeded by John Home Robertson