 Most of the votes Watt received were from Labour's senior MPs such as Henry May who thought Watt deserved the leadership and that many backbenchers, who did not appreciate the administrative burden he carried, unfairly voted against him.In the Rowling ministry, Watt regained his cherished the Works and Development portfolio until March 1975, and was subsequently appointed to the Executive Council as a Minister without portfolio.In 1974 he was also appointed a Privy Councillor alongside former Prime Minister Jack Marshall.