Background
Alden, John L. was born on May 16, 1941 in Olean, New York, United States.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Alden, John L. was born on May 16, 1941 in Olean, New York, United States.
Born in Grangemouth, he went to Leith Academy in Leith, then attended evening classes as a Post Office Telephones Youth in Training at Heriot-Watt Technical College and Napier College of Science and Technology.
McWilliam joined the Labour party in 1966, and prior to his election he worked as a telephone engineer, Technician 2A, for British Telecom
While a City of Edinburgh councillor, McWilliam fought Edinburgh Pentlands in February 1974, but was defeated by Malcolm Rifkind. He was subsequently elected for Blaydon at the 1979 election just as the Callaghan government left office. He served briefly as deputy shadow leader of the House of Commons, before becoming an opposition whip.
He resigned from this role in 1987 in protest at the sacking of two of his colleagues. McWilliam served on the Defence Select Committee for 12 years, between 1987 and 1999. When Betty Boothroyd retired as Speaker of the House of Commons, McWilliam was one of the 12 candidates nominated to succeed her.
In the election on 23 October 2000 he received 30 votes, the fewest of any candidate. He stood down at the 2005 general election after 26 years as an MP, and returned to living in Scotland where he died in November 2009. Stepping down in October 2002.
[48th United Kingdom Parliament. 49th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament.
51st United Kingdom Parliament. 52nd United Kingdom Parliament. 53rd United Kingdom Parliament]
He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blaydon from 1979 until he stood down at the 2005 general election.