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Full house for 'A Life in Politics' with Tam Dalyell
24 August, 2006
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Former Father of the House of Commons and tenacious campaigner, Tam Dalyell recalled 'a life in politics' before a full house at Holyrood today, at the Festival of Politics. Watch the interview again in the video archive.
Pulling no punches in a career-spanning interview with Presiding Officer George Reid, the former MP revisited defining issues of his career with recollections on the sinking of the Belgrano, the Lockerbie bombing and his continued opposition to the War in Iraq.
Ever the arch-critic of devolution, he still awaits an answer to the West Lothian Question and remains convinced that devolution is an unstable "half-way house".
While admitting that like most politicians he is 'not without vanity' he came clean that the phrase 'West Lothian Question' was coined by Enoch Powell rather than himself.
Frustrated by the length of time it would take Dalyell to rehearse his argument on why under devolution he could continue to vote on educational matters in Accrington but not Armadale, Powell decided that the issue should simply be known as the West Lothian Question.
Dalyell went on to reveal however that on a final visit, some years later, to Powell's house in Eaton Square, London, the former Conservative MP handed over ownership of the phrase. Dying from cancer, but still with a sharp sense of humour, Powell told Dalyell: "I have bequeathed to you the West Lothian Question".
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Despite his continued opposition to devolution, Dalyell offered some support to members of the Scottish Parliament.
He said: "I think credit to them [MSPs]. You haven't heard any criticism from me of the Scottish Parliament who in my opinion are doing a very good job", but added: "I am sad that none of the members have taken up in a terrier-like way the whole Lockerbie issue."
The whole interview with Tam Dalyell can be watched again online.
In it, Dalyell recalls the "cataclysmic experience" of visiting Belsen with army colleagues in 1952 and how it was a turning point in his political life and the moment when he became a European.
He also reveals that he had a high regard for Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and Harold MacMillan but remains deeply critical of Tony Blair.
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