Malcolm John MacDonald (17 August 1901 – 11 January 1981) was a British politician and diplomat. He was initially a Labour Member of Parliament (MP), but in 1931 followed his father Ramsay MacDonald in breaking with the party and joining the National Government, and was consequently expelled from the Labour Party. MacDonald was a government minister during the Second World War and was later Governor of Kenya. Early life MacDonald was born to future Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Margaret MacDonald. Like his father, he was born in Lossiemouth, Moray. He was educated at Bedales School and Queen's College, Oxford. MacDonald was a successful member of his college debating team and in 1924 embarked on a debating tour of the United States and Australia. Political career Early career MacDonald was first elected to Parliament for Bassetlaw in the 1929 general election and proved to be a "loyal" son, in contrast to Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin's son Oliver who was also elected a Labour MP. In 1931, the Labour government broke up and MacDonald's father formed the National Government, with representatives drawn from all political parties. Very few Labour members supported it, however, and so Malcolm was appointed to a junior ministerial post as Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. When the Labour MPs met to discuss the formation of the government, Malcolm was the only person to speak in favour of his father's actions and to vote against a condemnatory resolution. MacDonald held his seat in the 1931 general election as a National Labour candidate, and he continued to build up a reputation as a highly competent minister. When his father retired as prime minister in 1935, Stanley Baldwin as the successor appointed Malcolm to the Cabinet for the first time as Secretary of State for the Colonies. MacDonald senior at the same time became Lord President of the Council, and they became only the third father and son to sit together in the same Cabinet. In the 1935 general election, which was held that autumn, MacDonald narrowly lost his seat. After some discussion, Baldwin decided to retain him in government but to move him to the post of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in a direct swap with James Henry Thomas, who had created problems with some Dominion governments. In February, MacDonald stood for Parliament in a by-election at Ross and Cromarty. The election proved chaotic, as the