 Maxton was the only Labour candidate at that election to gain a seat won by the Conservatives at the previous general election.In Parliament, he allied with the left in the Tribune Group, and voted against the Falklands War.In 1983, his constituency was redrawn to his disadvantage, but Maxton ruled out a move to any neighbouring and more favourable areas; he therefore notionally gained his seat from the Conservatives again in the 1983 general election.