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]
In the 1990s, Dalyell asked the Lord Advocate, Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, to grant diplomatic immunity to Lester Coleman, a co-author of Trail of the Octopus, so that he could give evidence in the Lockerbie bombing trial in Scotland; the US Government had indictments against Coleman, accusing him of passport fraud and perjury. Allan Stewart, a former Scottish Office minister and Conservative MP for 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 imperialistic. Beginning with his opposition to Britain becoming involved in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in 1965, he contested almost every British military intervention, arguing against Britain's involvement in the Aden Emergency,[19] the Falklands War (especially the sinking of the General Belgrano), the Gulf War, the Kosovo War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[20] "I will resist a war with every sinew in my body", he said.[7] Dalyell was also a supporter of the Chagossians in their campaign to return to Diego Garcia after being expelled in 1968.[21] When invited by a television journalist to rank Tony Blair among the eight Prime Ministers he had observed as a parliamentarian, he cited Blair's policies in Kosovo and Iraq as reasons for placing his party leader at the bottom of the list. He was also a strong presence in Parliament concerning Libya and led no fewer than 17 adjournment debates on the Lockerbie bombing,[22][23] in which he repeatedly demanded answers by the Government to the reports of Hans Köchler, United Nations observer at the Lockerbie trial.[24]
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.[25] Following his outspoken opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and criticism of the Government, Downing Street suggested that he might face withdrawal of the Labourwhip.[26] In May, the American magazine Vanity Fair reported Dalyell indirectly as having said that Prime Minister Tony Blair was unduly influenced by a "cabal of Jewish advisers".[27] He specifically named Lord Levy, who was Blair's official representative in the Middle East, and Labour politicians Peter Mandelson (whose father was Jewish) and Jack Straw (whose great-grandfather was Jewish). Mandelson said that "apart from the fact that I am not actually Jewish, I wear my father's parentage with pride".[28] Dalyell denied accusations that the remarks were anti-Semitic.[29][30][31] 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".[32]
On 7 March 2003, Dalyell was elected as Rector of the University of Edinburgh.[33] 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.[34] He had been Scotland's longest-serving MP since the resignation of Bruce Millan in 1988. He was succeeded as Father of the HousebyAlan 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.[35] Dalyell claimed that this was a legitimate expense to which he was entitled;[36] the House of Commons' Fees Office released £7,800.
Dalyell married Kathleen Wheatley, a teacher, on 26 December 1963;[38] she was the elder daughter of John Wheatley, Lord Advocate and Labour MP for East Edinburgh.[4] They have a son Gordon Wheatley Dalyell,[39] 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."[40]
Dalyell died at the House of the Binns on 26 January 2017, at the age of 84, following a brief, undisclosed illness.[4][41]
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 Sir Robert Douglas, 6th Baronet, in 1764: The account of their origin, given by Mr. Nisbet, and other historians, is, that in the reign of king 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.[42]
