Neil Carmichael, Baron Carmichael of Kelvingrove

Who was Neil Carmichael, Baron Carmichael of Kelvingrove?

Neil George Carmichael, Baron Carmichael of Kelvingrove was a British politician. He was a Labour Member of Parliament in Glasgow from 1962 to 1983.

Carmichael was the son of James Carmichael MP and the grandson of George Carmichael, a founder member of the Independent Labour Party. He was educated at Eastbank Academy, in Shettleston, and the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow. In the Second World War he was a conscientious objector. He was an engineer and a councillor on Glasgow Town Council.

Carmichael was elected as MP for Glasgow Woodside at a by-election in 1962, and held the seat until the constituency was abolished at the February 1974 election, when he was elected for Glasgow Kelvingrove. He served in Harold Wilson's governments in various positions including Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and later Under Secretary for Environment.

In 1980 he introduced a private member's bill to make Seatbelts compulsory, but it was "talked out" during the report stage

For the 1983 general election his constituency was abolished and merged with Glasgow Hillhead which had been won in a by-election by Roy Jenkins for the SDP. The two incumbent MPs fought each other, with Jenkins winning.