Constituency : Berwickshire 1894-1918
Harold took over at Berwickshire after Edaward Marjoribanks succeeded his father and went to the Lords.
Harold was the son of Charles Tennant , former MP for Peebles and Selkirk. He was also Asquith's brother-in-law. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge.Harold had been Assistant Private Secretary to Asquith at the Home Office since 1892.
Harold supported workmens' compensation, unemployment insurance, factory inspections ( his wife was a factory inspector ) and a minimum wage. He chaired the Dangerous Trades Committee from 1895. He complained in 1900 that only two of its recommendations had been put in force.
In 1909 Harold was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade . In 1911 he became Financial Secretary to the War Office and then Under-Secretary of State for War in 1912. He had to investigate complaints of the recruitment of underage soldiers. He countered by saying the boys had lied about their age but issued a directive that the surviving boys should be sent home which the generals were reluctant to obey. When complaints about rough treatment of conscientious objectors arose following the introduction of conscription, Harold entreated "I am asking the House not to believe all this tittle-tattle". He defended the execution of deserters. In July 1916 he joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland but held the position for just six months before Asquith was ousted.
In 1918 Harold's seat and the neighbouring Haddingtonshire seat were merged into one and both incumbent Liberals contested it. Harold's neighbour , Thomas Hope, received the "coupon" as a Lloyd George supporter which assured his victory. Harold was left in third place with just 16% of the vote.
In 1923 Harold contested Glasgow Central but received a derisory vote.
He died in 1935 aged 70.
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