He took through Parliament the upgrading of the nuclear deterrent to the current Trident system (D5).

With that family he remained connected, more or less, until 1793, when he settled at the Hotwells, Bristol, where he practised with distinguished reputation and success until disabled by hemiplegia. Their daughter, Sasha, is a journalist married to the former MP for East Devon, Hugo Swire, Baron Swire, and published controversial diaries about life as a parliamentarian's wife in the early 21st century. Born in Bideford, Devon, the son of Richard Nott and Phyllis (née Francis), Nott was educated at Bradfield College and was commissioned as a regular officer in the 2nd Gurkha Rifles (1952–1956).

The Financial Times and its journalism are subject to a self-regulation regime under the FT Editorial Code of Practice. I flew down to Portsmouth to see the task force being prepared, but the famous occasion was the Saturday debate where the whole House of Commons was baying for the blood of the government for allowing this to happen and I was the fall guy really. The National Liberals were formally absorbed by the Conservatives in 1968 and Nott then sat as a Conservative MP.

Sir John William Frederic Nott KCB [1] (born 1 February 1932) [2] is a former British Conservative Party politician. He served as a Treasury Minister in the Heath Government, and sat in Margaret Thatcher’s first Cabinet, initially as Trade Secretary and then as Defence Secretary. Together with John Major, he is the only surviving member of Mrs Thatcher's cabinet who does not currently sit in either house of Parliament.

Interestingly, John Nott was the last person to commence his parliamentary career under the nearly obsolete National Liberal label.

Nott served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Cornwall constituency of St Ives from 1966 to 1983. It is the awkward passion not the mellow recollection which renders this an outstanding autobiography. Of his general education but little is known; at an early period he evinced a taste for poetic composition, and is said to have made some happy translations from the Latin classics. Of course it was difficult and dangerous for all the soldiers and sailors and airmen who went down there.There is material of particular interest on Silkin's difficulties with his Constituency Party in Deptford, and on the Labour Party Leadership and Deputy Leadership elections in 1980 and 1983. However, over the twentieth century, the field and its experts have gained unprecedented authority and influence. After a residence of some time in Paris, he travelled for two years on the continent, in medical charge of an invalid gentleman.