The news has just been released that David McLetchie MSP died earlier today of cancer at the age of 61.
David McLetchie studied law at University of Edinburgh. qualified as a solicitor in 1976 and then became a partner with Edinburgh lawyers, Tods Murray, where he worked until 2005. He was elected as an MSP for Lothian in the first parliamentary elections in 1999 and went on to hold the Pentlands constituency twice until 2011 when he was again returned as a Lothians MSP. In the meantime he was also Scottish Conservative Party leader from 1999-2005, and was latterly a member of the Justice Committee and the Scotland Bill Committee.
Mr McLetchie had just been awarded the CBE in the 2013 Birthday Honours.
Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western said:-“It’s with real sadness that I learned of David’s passing. Regardless of our different political views we got along really well. He was a real presence in the debating chamber and on the Justice Committee in the Scottish Parliament. David had a fantastic sense of humour, something that can be missing in present day politics. Our discussions always seemed to end on the subject of Hearts or Scottish rugby, he was a decent man in the cutthroat world of politics and I for one will miss him. My thoughts are with David’s family and friends at this time.”
Gordon MacDonald MSP who now represents McLetchie’s previous constituency for the SNP said:-“Whether at the football, hustings or in Parliament David McLetchie was always an approachable, warm, sincere individual who served his constituents well. We worked together on a couple of issues to the benefit of the people of Edinburgh Pentlands and Scottish politics will be the poorer with his passing.”
Alistair Morris, Vice President of the Law Society of Scotland, has paid tribute to David McLetchie.
He said: -“David McLetchie was not only a leading figure in Scottish politics but he enjoyed a distinguished legal career as a partner at Tods Murray before focusing on his role as a Member of the Scottish Parliament. He maintained a fierce interest in Scottish legal affairs, shown by the way be embraced his recent role as justice spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives.
“We extend our thoughts and sympathies to his family, friends and political colleagues. David was a great ambassador for the Scots legal profession and will be sorely missed.”
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