The second son of the 14th Duke of Hamilton, he represented Edinburgh West as an MP from 1974 until 1997, and subsequently served as a list MSP for the Lothians between 1999 and 2005.

In 1994, he relinquished an earldom he had inherited to retain his voting rights in the Commons. He also became a life peer in the House of Lords starting in 1997.

Better known in later years as Baron Selkirk, he grew up at Lennoxlove House, East Lothian, and was educated at Eton, Oxford University, and the University of Edinburgh.

His professional life included work as an advocate and depute procurator fiscal. He was also a councillor on the former Edinburgh District Council from 1972 to 1974.

Entering Parliament in the same year he married Susan Buchan, granddaughter of novelist John Buchan, he had a distinguished political career until he lost his seat to Liberal Democrat Donald Gorrie in the 1997 general election – an election that saw the Conservatives’ representation significantly diminished in Scotland. He and Susan had four sons.