 After demanding an inquiry into under-employment, in late 1983 he called on the Government to abolish or privatise the Crown Agents.Lawler voted to reintroduce the death penalty for murderers of police or prison officers only, and against its reintroduction generally, in July 1983.In January 1985 he was one of 70 Conservative MPs to break the whip and vote to reject a planning inspectors' report supporting expansion of Stansted Airport.