Kirkwood first joined parliament in 1971 as a parliamentary assistant as part of the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust (now the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust) Political Fellowship Scheme.

[2][3] In 1971 he worked for David Steel MP in the office of the Liberal Chief Whip.

This was the rally call that defeated the party leadership in the debate over the issue of an independent nuclear deterrent.

[5] A Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Work and Pensions, Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope, is listed in the House of Lords Register of Interests (Session 2006–2007)[6] as the Chairman of the Unum Customer Advisory Panel for which he received payment from Unum.

Kirkwood was knighted in the 2003 New Year Honours,[7][8] and dubbed by the Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 3 July 2003.