[1] McPhail entered politics at the 1915 state election, winning the seat of Windsor for the Labor and defeating the sitting member, Hugh Macrossan.

[3] When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments.

After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the council.

[5] In 1920, the new Premier Ted Theodore appointed a further fourteen new members to the Council[6] with McPhail amongst the appointees.

[1] McPhail died in Brisbane in September 1951[1] and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium.