After Labour was returned to office after the election , Walden declined the office of Minister of State for Industry , citing " personal reasons " . The Selly Oak constituency Labour Party passed a resolution criticising his " massive consultancy fees " , which Walden earned as a parliamentary consultant to , among others , the Business Equipment Trades Association , the Amusement Trades Association and the Amusement Caterers Association . The Birmingham pub bombings of 21 November 1974 occurred in Walden 's constituency and soon afterwards the Commons debated whether the death penalty should be restored for terrorist murderers . Walden opened the debate by opposing capital punishment , declaring it to be " judicial execution " and " a cold-blooded act of the state to take a life " . During the 1975 referendum on Britain 's membership of the EEC , Walden spoke in favour of Britain remaining a member . Walden told the Commons : " I think that the anti-Market campaign will in the end ... degenerate into narrow nationalism , the plea for a siege economy , for Socialism in one country . I was never very enchanted by the rhapsodies of the Eurofanatics but I certainly prefer their version of the future to that grim and barren alternative which it seems to me the anti-Marketeers will end up with "
Birmingham pub bombings
Birmingham pub bombings
Brian Walden