Editing Neil MacCormick (section)

== Political career ==
MacCormick stood for the SNP in the [[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]] constituency in [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]] and [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]], coming in fourth place both times. He stood for [[Argyll and Bute (UK Parliament constituency)|Argyll and Bute]] in [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]] and came second.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/016.stm |title=Vote 2001: Results & Constituencies: Argyll & Bute |work=BBC News |access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref>

In September 1998 he was selected by delegates at the SNP's conference as a candidate for the [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999 European Parliament elections]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/179343.stm |title=SNP chooses Euro candidates |work=[[BBC News]] |date=24 September 1998 |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> He was elected a [[Member of the European Parliament]], taking a leave of absence from the University of Edinburgh. Professor MacCormick was a member of the [[Convention on the Future of Europe]] from 2002 to 2003, drafting the proposed [[Constitutional Treaty for the European Union]]. He was voted Scottish Euro MP of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003 at the [[Scottish Politician of the Year]] Awards, and retired from elected office in 2004 to complete his Leverhulme Research Professorship at Edinburgh.

He was elected vice president of the SNP in 1999 and remained in the position until 2004.<ref name="BBC 6 Apr2009">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7985544.stm |title=Prominent SNP figure dies aged 67 |work=BBC News |date=6 April 2009 |access-date=24 January 2010}}</ref> In 2007 MacCormick was appointed as a special advisor on Europe to the [[Government of the 3rd Scottish Parliament|newly elected SNP-led]] [[Scottish Government]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6704673.stm |title=Advocate becomes Salmond adviser |work=BBC News |date=30 May 2007 |access-date=24 January 2010}}</ref>