During the 1980s he taught Modern Studies at Dumbarton Academy and Smithycroft Secondary School in Glasgow's East End.
After unsuccessfully contesting Clydesdale in 1987, he was selected as Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party candidate for Aberdeen South.
In 1995 he was appointed Minister for Education, Housing, Fisheries and Sport at the Scottish Office, a post he held until the 1997 general election.
After losing the Aberdeen South seat to Labour's Anne Begg at the 1997 general election, he became Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Chairman.
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