picked Nicholas Scott as one of its 150 "future world leaders". However in October 1974, Marcus Worsley, the MP for the safe Conservative seat of Chelsea, decided to retire. Scott was selected as the new Conservative candidate, and at the October 1974 general election, he was returned with over 60% of the vote. He immediately took a seat on the opposition front bench as Edward Heath appointed him spokesman on housing. 1975–1986 Scott's prospects were greatly curtailed when Margaret Thatcher won the Conservative Party Leadership race. Thatcher was a proponent of a 'tougher', less liberal Conservatism. Scott was offered a more junior position, he refused to serve and became a rallying point for the "wets" within the party. He did little to appease Thatcher, opposing sending sports teams to apartheid South Africa, he was also a proponent of Proportional Representation, and abstained on new immigration restrictions. Scott's championing of liberal causes led Labour politician Dick Crossman to describe him as "the most liberal Tory of them all". However when Roy Jenkins tried to enlist him for the newly formed SDP in 1981, Scott remained loyal to the Conservative party and turned down the invitation. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1989. A moderate Conservative, he fought to fend off Margaret Thatcher's more radical schemes and was the initial host of "Nick's Diner", the dining club where 'Wets' let off anti-Thatcher steam. In 1981 when Jim Prior, seen as a leader of the 'wet' Conservatives, was transferred to Northern Ireland by Thatcher, Scott joined him as a junior Minister. Scott took charge of prisons and quickly came under criticism when there was a mass break out from the Maze Prison and faced calls to resign. Prior stood by him, declaring that if Scott was forced to resign he would go as well. Scott became the longest serving minister in Northern Ireland and was rewarded for his service by being made Minister of State. Scott firmly believed in power sharing in Northern Ireland; this stance made him deeply unpopular with the loyalist element in Northern Ireland, many of whom felt that he had greater sympathy for a united Ireland than he admitted. He was a strong supporter of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and was held in high regard by the Dublin government and by the SDLP. 1987–1996 In 1987 Scott was moved sideways to the Department of Social Security, and soon became