Peter McLagan MP

That this House commemorates Peter McLagan, MP for the Constituency of Linlithgowshire from 1865 to 1893; applauds that, as Scotland’s first mixed-race MP, he withstood negative campaigning and became Parliament’s longest serving Scottish Member until his resignation; acknowledges his progressive contributions on matters of the day such as animal rights, universal free education, and women’s suffrage that led him to be known as a suffragette in trousers; further acknowledges his advocacy for the establishment of a Government Department dedicated to agricultural issues; commends his goal of increasing the number of elected Members for Scotland and his support for a Bill to better prevent the pollution of rivers; and appreciates the contemporary relevance of his ambitions.