The Linlithgow constituency, known as West Lothian up until 1983, has been held for Labour by Tam Dalyell since 1962. If Dalyell holds onto his seat he will become the new "father of the House", due to Edward Heath’s retirement at this election. In any debate about Scottish devolution this constituency (in its former incarnation) always gets a mention as someone inevitably raises the "West Lothian Question", so called because Mr Dalyell once put the dilemma of devolution so succinctly; he asked why he as an MP representing a Scottish seat should have a say on matters affecting Blackburn, Lancashire but not Blackburn, West Lothian, because those matters have been devolved.