John Maxton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Maxton
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 17 June 2004 – 5 May 2025 Life Peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Glasgow Cathcart |
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| In office 3 May 1979 – 14 May 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Teddy Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Tom Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 May 1936 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford |
John Alston Maxton, Baron Maxton (born 5 May 1936) is a Scottish politician from the Labour Party. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons from 1979 to 2001. After that, he became a member of the House of Lords.
Early Life and Education
John Maxton's uncle was James Maxton, a well-known political leader. Both his father and his uncle were "conscientious objectors" during World War I. This means they chose not to fight in the war because of their personal beliefs.
John Maxton also became a conscientious objector from 1955 to 1957. During this time, he worked on building sites and farms. He went to Lord Williams's Grammar School in Thame. Later, he studied at University College, Oxford.
A Career in Politics
John Maxton joined the Labour Party in 1970. He became an important campaigner for a group called Scottish Labour Against the Market. This group was active during the 1975 vote on whether Britain should stay in the Common Market (which is now part of the European Union).
In the 1979 United Kingdom general election, Maxton ran for election in the Glasgow Cathcart area. He was running against the sitting MP, Teddy Taylor. The area was changing, and the Labour Party was becoming more popular in Scotland. This helped Maxton win the election. He was the only Labour candidate in that election to win a seat from the Conservatives.
In Parliament, Maxton joined a group called the Tribune Group, which had more left-wing political views. He voted against the Falklands War. In 1983, the boundaries of his constituency were changed. Even so, he won his seat again in the 1983 United Kingdom general election.
Maxton was a popular MP, but he did not get enough support to join the Labour Party's "shadow cabinet." The shadow cabinet is a group of opposition MPs who watch over government departments. In 1985, he became a "Whip" for Labour in Scotland. A Whip makes sure that party members vote in line with the party's policies. From 1985 to 1992, he was also a spokesperson for Scottish Affairs.
John Maxton left the House of Commons at the 2001 United Kingdom general election. On June 17, 2004, he was given a "life peerage." This meant he became a member of the House of Lords for life, with the title Baron Maxton, of Blackwaterfoot in Ayrshire and Arran. He retired from the House of Lords on May 5, 2025.
