Neil Macfarlane (politician)

Macfarlane first stood for Parliament in 1970 at East Ham North, but was defeated by Labour's Reg Prentice. He was elected member of parliament for Sutton and Cheam in February 1974, regaining the seat from the Liberal Graham Tope who had beaten him in a by-election just 14 months earlier.

Macfarlane held some ministerial posts, including Education and Science and the Arts (1979–1981), and the Environment and Sport (1981–1985).

Macfarlane stood down from Parliament in 1992, and was succeeded by Lady Olga Maitland. He wrote, with Michael Herd, a memoir of his time as sports minister, Sport and Politics: a world divided (Willow, 1986). He was knighted in the 1988 New Year Honours.