 Maxton was a popular backbencher, but did not obtain much support when he stood for election to the Labour Shadow Cabinet.He was Labour's Scottish Whip in 1985 and a spokesman on Scottish Affairs from 1985–1992.He stood down from the House of Commons at the 2001 general election and was given a life peerage on 17 June 2004, as Baron Maxton, of Blackwaterfoot in Ayrshire and Arran.