485:
where a prison officer was taken hostage for 17 hours, he pointed to poor morale among prison officers and urged improvements in the parole system which he claimed were at the root of the problem. He raised cases of alleged mistreatment of prisoners, and called for model prisoners to be released
326:
on 10 July 1980 in an opposition debate on industry, McTaggart attacked the
Conservative government's economic policy, claiming that non-intervention "fanned the flames of unemployment in Glasgow" and had caused the loss of 300 jobs each day. In November 1981 he supported an increased borrowing
309:
resulting from McMillan's death by concentrating on national issues and especially attacked unemployment. The constituency was the smallest in
Britain and had some of the worst economic problems, and when McTaggart won with a majority of 2,780 over the
407:
in 1983. McTaggart was one of a group of some 30 Labour left-wingers who mounted a demonstration on the floor of the House of
Commons in November 1984 against the Government's reduction in benefits to the wives of strikers; the Speaker was forced to
362:
McTaggart was sponsored by his union, the EETPU, which paid £600 to his
Constituency Labour Party and 80% of his election expenses. The union leadership was strongly aligned with the right in internal Labour Party debates and its leader
350:
which made up more than half of the new seat. He won a decisive victory at the selection contest held on 13 May 1983, just after the election had been called, and went on to win the seat by a 10,962 vote majority.
465:, where there were many tower blocks in poor condition. McTaggart backed a bid from the New Gorbals Trust charity to buy and demolish the Hutchesontown E block in 1985. He criticised the Scottish Office minister
193:. McTaggart was on the left of his party, and took up issues of unemployment and poor housing which affected his constituency. He also took a particular interest in international affairs, being a supporter of the
409:
440:
in
January and February 1981. He urged recognition of the PLO as the "legitimate representative" of Palestinian people and pledged support for Palestinian "inalienable rights" in April 1983. After visiting
506:
candidate Eric Heffer. Owing to rule changes in the Labour Party requiring that a woman be shortlisted for every
Parliamentary selection, he expected to be challenged for reselection by Ann Henderson, an
480:
to Labour. McTaggart was chairman of the all-party
Scottish Penal Affairs Committee, where he worked quietly for improvements in prison conditions. After a series of prison disturbances, including one at
449:
was shot in April 1984; his offer to help negotiate with the
Libyans was declined by the police at the ensuing siege. He was part of a Labour Action for Peace delegation to Moscow earlier in 1984.
233:
1037:
347:
342:
split the
Glasgow Central seat four ways, and it constituted less than a quarter of the electorate of a new seat of the same name. McTaggart faced a reselection battle with
232:, and worked for five years in this job. From 1968 to 1972 he was a trigonometrical calculator for the shipbuilders, then becoming a Pipework planner. McTaggart joined the
257:
831:
775:
618:
908:
891:
848:
988:
874:
511:
delegate who was associated with a left-wing group who had removed most of his supporters from offices within the
Glasgow Central Constituency Labour Party.
495:
372:
294:
186:
40:
404:
792:
1004:
75:
691:
354:
In November 1985, McTaggart opposed televising proceedings in the House of Commons, but by March 1988 he had changed his mind and voted in favour.
331:, urging that it set up a fund to take on new apprentices. McTaggart was one of 33 Labour MPs to vote against the Government in a debate on the
1057:
984:
182:
35:
275:
ward in the 1977 local elections. As a member of the licensing committee in December 1979, he resisted suggestions that the committee watch
1047:
977:
473:
339:
290:
63:
248:
in 1969, McTaggart held a series of posts within the local Labour Party organisation where he lived. He was successively chairman of the
425:
194:
997:
993:
968:
306:
1032:
277:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1052:
1042:
508:
298:
420:
Throughout his time in Parliament, McTaggart showed an interest in visiting foreign countries. He was a guest of the
314:
on a low turnout, it was regarded as a poor result. McTaggart declared that "it was the result we were looking for".
379:, his EETPU sponsorship was withdrawn. He appealed unsuccessfully against the decision. Initially a member of the
221:, his father also being called Robert. He attended St Constantine and St Bartholomew primary schools, followed by
469:
for calling on local authorities to remove asbestos from buildings but refusing to give them the money to do so.
260:
222:
166:
730:"The BBC/ITN Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies", Parliamentary Research Services, 1983, pp. 70, 182.
503:
384:
268:
519:
311:
959:
523:
1027:
1022:
328:
264:
765:"The Times Guide to the House of Commons", Times Books, Revised and Updated edition 1984, p. 118.
515:
229:
387:
in November 1982, and in the same month spoke at a Glasgow meeting called by supporters of the
482:
388:
302:
245:
190:
125:
477:
526:. McTaggart married Elizabeth Jardine in February 1966; they had a son and two daughters.
446:
400:
297:
Constituency Labour Party. The campaign he organised won the seat, but McTaggart's friend
805:
466:
343:
445:
in 1983, he was due to go to the Libyan People's Bureau in London on the day that WPC
1016:
560:, "Parliamentary Profiles L-R", Parliamentary Profiles Service Ltd, 1984, pp. 514–15.
499:
462:
458:
380:
364:
332:
323:
267:, serving for only one year before local government was reformed. He was elected to
368:
206:
457:
Glasgow Central included the historic centre of the city and McTaggart lived in a
557:
421:
396:
305:
in April 1980. McTaggart was selected as his successor on 3 June. He fought the
202:
461:
near the city centre; it expanded south of the River Clyde in 1983 to include
433:
376:
272:
228:
At the age of 16 he left school and was apprenticed to be marine plumber at
181:(2 November 1945 – 23 March 1989) was a Scottish politician who served as a
864:"The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1987", Times Books, 1987, p. 119.
253:
954:
437:
249:
218:
429:
442:
198:
808:(editor), "The Political Companion", No. 32 (Spring 1982), p. 78.
424:
government in visiting the country in September 1980, and of the
391:
opposing the expulsions of the members of the editorial board of
717:
Philip Webster, Anthony Bevins, "Labour rebels inflame rift",
301:
died from head injuries sustained when he fell from a bus in
234:
Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union
909:
Women likely to put in challenge for two 'safe' Labour seats
209:. McTaggart died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 43.
236:
and was the EETPU shop steward at Govan from 1971 to 1977.
375:
in 1981. When McTaggart voted for the left-wing candidate
739:
Anthony Bevins, "Alliance move to end Liverpool revolt",
638:, 1 May 1980, p. 1. See also "MP hurt in fall from bus",
514:
On 23 March 1989 McTaggart collapsed and died while on a
937:
Michael Jeffries, "A bigger role for the ambulance",
817:
Stuart Trotter, William Russell, "Chaos in Commons",
664:
Ronald Faux, "Forceful contest for Glasgow Central",
335:
in May 1982, defying party instructions to abstain.
162:
154:
131:
121:
107:
90:
85:
69:
57:
34:
23:
580:, Dod's Parliamentary Companion Ltd, 1983, p. 442.
677:"Nationalists push the Tories into third place",
651:"Labour chooses former agent to fight election",
281:to consider whether to ban it from city cinemas.
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
472:He was re-elected with a 17,253 majority in the
960:contributions in Parliament by Robert McTaggart
776:Thatcher backs vote to bar cameras from Commons
263:Executive Committee. In 1974 he was elected to
395:newspaper. He supported the left-wing team of
8:
1038:People educated at Holyrood Secondary School
383:, he was one of the founding members of the
964:
924:Nicholas Wood, "Death opens way for SNP",
572:
570:
568:
566:
20:
552:
550:
548:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
752:"McElhone fails in Glasgow selection",
534:
252:East Labour Party branch, Secretary of
875:"Warning from MP as prison siege ends"
522:. It was confirmed that he had had a
256:Labour Party branch, and a member of
53:26 June 1980 – 23 March 1989
7:
892:"Dewar in split on leadership fight"
849:"Ancram 'passing buck' on asbestos"
832:Hutchie E: The Big Question of £20m
578:Dod's Parliamentary Companion 1983
14:
426:Palestine Liberation Organization
195:Palestine Liberation Organization
969:Parliament of the United Kingdom
704:"BS improving its performance",
695:, HC 5ser vol 988 cols 799-801.
619:"Council ponders 'Python' film"
604:"Robert McTaggart" (obituary),
144:
16:Scottish politician (1945–1989)
1:
576:"McTAGGART, Robert" entry in
502:rather than the further left
293:, McTaggart became agent for
1058:Trade unionists from Glasgow
556:"Bob (Robert) McTaggart" in
498:of 1988, McTaggart endorsed
278:Monty Python's Life of Brian
1048:Scottish Labour councillors
838:, 27 September 1985, p. 24.
1089:
796:, HC 6ser vol 127 col 283.
496:deputy leadership election
476:, having achieved an 8.7%
373:Deputy Leadership election
1001:
982:
974:
967:
898:, 5 September 1988, p. 4.
855:, 18 February 1985, p. 3.
821:, 22 November 1984, p. 1.
782:, 21 November 1985, p. 6.
743:, 19 February 1983, p. 4.
708:, 18 November 1981, p. 8.
403:for Deputy Leader in the
261:Constituency Labour Party
223:Holyrood Secondary School
172:
167:Holyrood Secondary School
81:
46:
30:
915:, 9 February 1989, p. 2.
625:, 5 December 1979, p. 3.
504:Socialist Campaign Group
385:Socialist Campaign Group
338:Boundary changes at the
271:as a councillor for the
269:Glasgow District Council
312:Scottish National Party
289:In preparation for the
1033:Councillors in Glasgow
642:, 17 April 1980, p. 1.
318:Parliamentary activity
217:McTaggart was born in
836:Glasgow Evening Times
681:, 27 June 1980, p. 1.
668:, 16 June 1980, p. 4.
474:1987 general election
416:International affairs
358:Labour Party politics
340:1983 general election
291:1979 general election
985:Member of Parliament
756:, 14 May 1983, p. 4.
721:, 21 May 1982, p. 1.
655:, 4 June 1980, p. 3.
348:Glasgow Queen's Park
329:British Shipbuilders
183:Member of Parliament
36:Member of Parliament
1053:Scottish socialists
1043:Scottish Labour MPs
410:adjourn the sitting
405:Leadership election
346:who was the MP for
299:Thomas McMillan, MP
265:Glasgow Corporation
258:Glasgow Kelvingrove
189:, representing the
634:"Labour MP dies",
516:London Underground
244:After joining the
230:Govan Shipbuilders
1011:
1010:
1002:Succeeded by
389:Militant tendency
303:Parliament Square
176:
175:
137:Elizabeth Jardine
103:Glasgow, Scotland
1080:
1073:UK MPs 1987–1992
1068:UK MPs 1983–1987
1063:UK MPs 1979–1983
975:Preceded by
965:
942:
941:, 30 March 1989.
935:
929:
928:, 24 March 1989.
922:
916:
907:William Clark, "
905:
899:
888:
882:
873:Raymond Duncan,
871:
865:
862:
856:
845:
839:
830:Bob Tomlinson, "
828:
822:
815:
809:
803:
797:
789:
783:
772:
766:
763:
757:
750:
744:
737:
731:
728:
722:
715:
709:
702:
696:
688:
682:
675:
669:
662:
656:
649:
643:
632:
626:
617:John MacCalman,
615:
609:
608:, 24 March 1989.
602:
581:
574:
561:
554:
179:Robert McTaggart
148:
146:
114:
100:
98:
86:Personal details
72:
60:
51:
21:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1082:
1081:
1079:
1078:
1077:
1013:
1012:
1007:
992:
989:Glasgow Central
980:
978:Thomas McMillan
950:
945:
936:
932:
923:
919:
906:
902:
889:
885:
872:
868:
863:
859:
846:
842:
829:
825:
816:
812:
804:
800:
790:
786:
773:
769:
764:
760:
751:
747:
738:
734:
729:
725:
716:
712:
703:
699:
689:
685:
676:
672:
663:
659:
650:
646:
633:
629:
616:
612:
603:
584:
575:
564:
555:
536:
532:
492:
455:
453:Domestic issues
447:Yvonne Fletcher
418:
401:Michael Meacher
399:for Leader and
360:
320:
295:Glasgow Central
287:
285:Glasgow Central
242:
215:
187:Glasgow Central
150:
147: 1966)
142:
138:
122:Political party
117:London, England
116:
112:
102:
101:2 November 1945
96:
94:
70:
64:Thomas McMillan
58:
52:
47:
41:Glasgow Central
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1086:
1084:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1015:
1014:
1009:
1008:
1003:
1000:
981:
976:
972:
971:
963:
962:
949:
948:External links
946:
944:
943:
930:
917:
913:Glasgow Herald
900:
883:
879:Glasgow Herald
866:
857:
853:Glasgow Herald
840:
823:
819:Glasgow Herald
810:
806:F. W. S. Craig
798:
784:
780:Glasgow Herald
767:
758:
745:
732:
723:
710:
697:
683:
670:
657:
644:
627:
623:Glasgow Herald
610:
582:
562:
533:
531:
528:
491:
488:
467:Michael Ancram
454:
451:
417:
414:
359:
356:
344:Helen McElhone
319:
316:
286:
283:
241:
238:
214:
211:
174:
173:
170:
169:
164:
160:
159:
156:
152:
151:
140:
136:
135:
133:
129:
128:
123:
119:
118:
115:(aged 43)
109:
105:
104:
92:
88:
87:
83:
82:
79:
78:
73:
67:
66:
61:
55:
54:
44:
43:
32:
31:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1085:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1006:
999:
995:
991:
990:
986:
979:
973:
970:
966:
961:
957:
956:
952:
951:
947:
940:
934:
931:
927:
921:
918:
914:
910:
904:
901:
897:
896:Evening Times
893:
887:
884:
881:, 3 May 1988.
880:
876:
870:
867:
861:
858:
854:
850:
847:Allan Laing,
844:
841:
837:
833:
827:
824:
820:
814:
811:
807:
802:
799:
795:
794:
788:
785:
781:
777:
771:
768:
762:
759:
755:
749:
746:
742:
736:
733:
727:
724:
720:
714:
711:
707:
701:
698:
694:
693:
687:
684:
680:
674:
671:
667:
661:
658:
654:
648:
645:
641:
637:
631:
628:
624:
620:
614:
611:
607:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
583:
579:
573:
571:
569:
567:
563:
559:
553:
551:
549:
547:
545:
543:
541:
539:
535:
529:
527:
525:
521:
517:
512:
510:
505:
501:
500:John Prescott
497:
489:
487:
484:
479:
475:
470:
468:
464:
463:Hutchesontown
460:
459:council house
452:
450:
448:
444:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
415:
413:
411:
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
381:Tribune Group
378:
374:
370:
366:
365:Frank Chapple
357:
355:
352:
349:
345:
341:
336:
334:
333:Falklands War
330:
325:
324:maiden speech
317:
315:
313:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
284:
282:
280:
279:
274:
270:
266:
262:
259:
255:
251:
247:
239:
237:
235:
231:
226:
224:
220:
212:
210:
208:
204:
200:
197:and visiting
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
171:
168:
165:
161:
157:
153:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
111:23 March 1989
110:
106:
93:
89:
84:
80:
77:
74:
68:
65:
62:
56:
50:
45:
42:
37:
33:
29:
25:Bob McTaggart
22:
19:
983:
953:
938:
933:
925:
920:
912:
903:
895:
890:Ian Hernon,
886:
878:
869:
860:
852:
843:
835:
826:
818:
813:
801:
791:
787:
779:
770:
761:
753:
748:
740:
735:
726:
718:
713:
705:
700:
690:
686:
678:
673:
665:
660:
652:
647:
639:
635:
630:
622:
613:
605:
577:
524:heart attack
513:
493:
490:Sudden death
471:
456:
428:in visiting
422:North Korean
419:
392:
369:Denis Healey
361:
353:
337:
321:
288:
276:
246:Labour Party
243:
227:
216:
207:Soviet Union
191:Labour Party
178:
177:
113:(1989-03-23)
71:Succeeded by
48:
18:
1028:1989 deaths
1023:1945 births
1005:Mike Watson
958:1803–2005:
558:Andrew Roth
397:Eric Heffer
322:Making his
307:by-election
203:North Korea
76:Mike Watson
59:Preceded by
1017:Categories
530:References
483:Perth jail
367:supported
327:limit for
213:Early life
97:1945-11-02
939:The Times
926:The Times
754:The Times
741:The Times
719:The Times
706:The Times
679:The Times
666:The Times
653:The Times
640:The Times
636:The Times
606:The Times
518:train to
434:West Bank
377:Tony Benn
273:Anderston
185:(MP) for
163:Education
49:In office
520:Heathrow
393:Militant
254:Townhead
240:Politics
205:and the
155:Children
955:Hansard
793:Hansard
692:Hansard
494:In the
486:early.
438:Lebanon
371:in the
250:Partick
219:Glasgow
149:
141:
432:, the
430:Jordan
132:Spouse
126:Labour
478:swing
443:Libya
199:Libya
143:(
139:
998:1989
994:1980
987:for
436:and
108:Died
91:Born
39:for
911:",
834:",
778:",
509:NUR
1019::
996:–
894:,
877:,
851:,
621:,
585:^
565:^
537:^
412:.
225:.
201:,
145:m.
774:"
158:2
99:)
95:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.