John MacLeod (Ross and Cromarty MP)

Sir John MacLeod TD (23 February 1913 – 3 June 1984) was a British army officer, tweed designer, and politician who was a Member of Parliament in the Scottish highlands for 19 years.

When repatriated at the end of the war, MacLeod avidly read, The Times, for 3 weeks to get up to speed on British affairs before entering into politics as a candidate for Ross and Cromarty in the 1945 general election.

[2] Most of the press designated him as a Liberal National and he faced a straight fight with the Labour Party to succeed Malcolm MacDonald.

From 1951, he was an official candidate and he backed the Conservatives in Parliament; however, on issues which he felt adversely affected his constituents, he was willing to break party lines.

[8] In 1960, he moved a motion condemning the state drink monopoly in three Scottish towns (Annan, Dingwall and Invergordon) created during the First World War and obtained all-party support for its ending.

[9] Despite his rebelliousness, MacLeod's standing in his local community was recognised when he was Knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 1963.