Career
Macfarlane first stood for Parliament in 1970 at East Ham North, but was defeated by Labour"s Regional Prentice. Macfarlane held some ministerial posts, including Education and Science and the Arts (1979–1981), and the Environment and Sport (1981–1985). Macfarlane stood down from Parliament in 1992, and was succeeded by Lady Olga Maitland.
He wrote, with Michael Herd, a memoir of his time as sports minister, Sport and Politics: a world divided (Willow, 1986).
