He became chairman of the Scottish Liberals in 1975, and was a candidate at various general elections between 1974 and 1983, finally being elected as member for North East Fife in 1987. He was made the Liberal Democrat chief spokesman on foreign affairs and defence in 1992, and when the Liberal Democrats in 1997 decided to operate a proper Shadow Cabinet was made Shadow Foreign Affairs Secretary. Since October 2003 he has also been deputy leader. He was awarded a knighthood in 2003 for 'services to Parliament'.
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