[5] On leaving school, he worked as a shop assistant, painter, shipyard worker and tram driver.
He stood unsuccessfully for Labour in the parliamentary seat of West Aberdeenshire in the General Election of 1950, achieving 2nd place with 23% of the vote.
He held this seat for 23 years until the General Election of February 1974, when he was succeeded by the future Foreign Minister Robin Cook.
[1][9] He was involved in the British Aluminium company's hydro-electric projects at Kinlochleven (near Ben Nevis) and at Foyers (on the south-east shore of Loch Ness) in the 1930s.
With this knowledge he was the Chairman of the Select Committee on the North Wales Hydro Electric Power Bill (now Act) of 1973.