He was educated at Eastbank Academy, in Shettleston, and the Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow.
In 1980 he introduced a private member's bill to make seatbelts compulsory, but it was "talked out" during the report stage[3] For the 1983 general election his constituency was abolished and merged with Glasgow Hillhead which had been won in a by-election by the former Labour Deputy Leader Roy Jenkins for the SDP.
The two incumbent MPs fought each other, with Jenkins, now the SDP's leader, winning by 1,164 votes.
[4] He held the following ministerial posts during his time in the House of Commons:[2] Carmichael was created a Life peer as Baron Carmichael of Kelvingrove, of Camlachie in the District of the City of Glasgow on 10 October 1983.
Carmichael died following a stroke after a long illness, according to Lord Graham of Edmonton.