 At the time he lived in Hampstead & Highgate where John McDonnell was the party's candidate for a seat won by the Conservatives in the 'landslide' election of 1983.Donoughue was also chairman of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1979 to 1991, patron from 1989 to 1995, and has been an associate since 2000.Around this time, he was also one of the sources inside Whitehall used by the writers of the comedy series "Yes Minister", the other one being Baroness Falkender.