Ironically, Lawson was most noted for being one of 69 rebel Labour MPs who disobeyed a three-line whip to vote with the then Conservative Government in securing Britain's accession into the European Economic Community (EEC) in October 1971. Unlike most other pro-EEC Labour 'moderates', however, he was an opponent of Scottish devolution, and following his retirement from the House of Commons he was made campaign director of the anti-Home Rule group "Scotland is British", remaining so until his death.
Ironically, Lawson was most famous for being one of 69 dissenting Labour MPs who disobeyed a three-line whip to vote with the then Conservative Government in securing Britain's entry into the EEC in October 1971. Unlike other Labour supporters of EEC membership, he opposed Scottish devolution, and after retiring from Parliament, he became the campaign director for the "Scotland is British" anti-Home Rule group until his death.