Jim Wallace, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, former Deputy First Minister of Scotland and a towering figure of modern Scottish liberalism, has died.
The Scotsman report that Lord Wallace has died after complications from surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Jim Wallace was born in Dumfriesshire and educated at Annan Academy before attending Cambridge and Edinburgh universities. He was called to the bar in 1979, practising mainly in civil law cases, and became a QC in 1997.
Lord Wallace was elected to the UK Parliament in 1983 as MP for Orkney & Shetland, succeeding Jo Grimond, and held the seat for 18 years. He earned a formidable reputation as a diligent constituency champion and a respected voice at Westminster.
After becoming leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in 1992, he led the party through the Scottish devolution referendum in 1997, having also been a member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention which created the blueprint for devolution and a Scottish Parliament.
Upon the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Lord Wallace was elected as MSP for Orkney and became Deputy First Minister of Scotland, serving in government from 1999 to 2005. He became acting First Minister while Donald Dewar underwent heart surgery in April 2000, after Dewar’s death in October 2000, and held the temporary office again following the resignation of Henry McLeish in 2001.
He also held the roles of Minister for Justice and later Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, playing a central role in the early years of devolution and helping to shape Scotland’s modern political settlement. He also established a world-leading freedom of information regime.
He entered the House of Lords in 2007 as Lord Wallace of Tankerness, where he remained an authoritative and thoughtful contributor on constitutional, legal and Scottish affairs, including serving five years as Advocate General for Scotland.
Jim also served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 2021 to 2022, and became unwell then after stepping down. He required emergency cardiac surgery, and afterwards spent less time in politics and more time on Orkney with his family. He has died at the age of 71.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, said: “Jim Wallace was one of the architects of modern Scotland and one of the finest liberals our party has ever produced.
“He believed deeply in devolution as a way to give people better services and more control over their own lives and he lived a life of public service right up until the end.
“For me personally, he was a mainstay of support throughout my adult life. Even as he went into hospital for the final time, he was still sending me words of advice and I will always try to live up to the standards he set.
“Throughout his career, Jim was widely respected across party lines for his integrity, calm judgement and deep belief in liberal values: fairness, the rule of law and respect for communities, no matter how remote.
“Scotland is a better country because of Jim Wallace, and the Liberal Democrats are a better party because of his example.”
Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney & Shetland, said: “Jim Wallace gave his adult life to serving the people of the Northern Isles, Scotland and the United Kingdom. His sudden and tragic death leaves a huge gap in public life. For those of us who knew him as a friend and for his family that gap is one that we shall struggle ever to fill.
“In the world of politics, having people on whom you can truly depend is a rare and precious thing. For me, Jim was someone who was there through good times and bad and I am bereft at his passing. I shall miss his acute political analysis, his warm and occasionally waspish wit and, most of all, his easy company and friendship. He was never someone for whom I had to present a front.
“My thoughts are with his wife Rosie, his daughters Helen and Clare, his mother and his brother Neil who I know are heartbroken at this moment. I hope that they may eventually take some comfort from the knowledge that the man that they loved in their family was loved by so many others too.”
Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, said: “Jim was a hugely influential figure in Scottish politics and public life over the past four decades. He was a passionate champion of liberalism as well as a fierce and effective advocate on behalf of the island communities in Orkney and Shetland he proudly represented over many years, first at Westminster and then Holyrood.
“He played a key role in delivering and shaping devolution, epitomising a style of politics that saw no contradiction in arguing your case robustly while working collaboratively to deliver for people, communities and our country. It is an approach that earned him respect and affection across the political spectrum and beyond, and one that is needed now more than ever in our politics.
“Jim was my boss, my mentor but most of all he was my friend. I am devastated by his death but feel enormously privileged to have known him so well for so long. My heart goes out to his wife Rosie, daughters Helen and Clare and all the family who will be feeling the pain of his loss. It is a grief that will be shared by many whose lives were touched by this wise, compassionate and thoroughly decent man.”
The First Minister of Scotland John Swinney said:“I am profoundly shocked at the passing of Lord Jim Wallace. As the first ever Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Lord Wallace was a hugely important figure in shaping Scotland’s modern political national life.“His contribution to our country is demonstrated by the success and strength of the Scottish Parliament. Jim helped shape the very first Parliament and he remained an important contributor to Holyrood as a champion of devolution and a strengthened Scottish Parliament.“Jim also gave distinguished leadership to the Church of Scotland as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, a role he cherished and which was such an appropriate tribute to his deep Christian faith.“I enjoyed and valued a warm personal friendship with Jim and appreciated the immense personal kindness he always showed to me and my family. “My thoughts are very much with Rosie and her family, and on behalf of the people of Scotland, we stand with them in grieving a man who gave so much to our country.” Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Wallace. “Jim was the kind of politician that gives politics a good name. Decent, thoughtful and dutiful he embodied much that is best in our national life. “As Scotland’s first Deputy First Minister, he helped shape the very foundations of our devolved Parliament. His leadership during those early years set the tone for the institution we know today. “Throughout his career- serving as Advocate General for Scotland, leading the Scottish Liberal Democrats, or as Moderator of the Church of Scotland – he brought an unwavering commitment to service. “He was a man of faith and decency, respected across the political spectrum. My thoughts are with his wife and family.” The Advocate General for Scotland, Baroness Smith of Cluny KC, said: “I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Lord Wallace. His is a story of lifelong public service, undertaken with dedication, decency and compassion, for which we should all be grateful. He served as the first Deputy First Minister of Scotland to three First Ministers, was acting First Minister of Scotland, and Advocate General. He also served in both chambers of the UK Parliament, and as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney. “He performed all these roles with distinction, and earned the respect and admiration of colleagues across both parliaments and beyond. He played a vital part, through many roles, in delivering and securing the devolution settlement. “Only in December, I had the pleasure of welcoming Lord Wallace back to Dover House to deliver a fascinating lecture, sharing his insights and reflections on the Scottish and UK Parliaments, and the journey of devolution in Scotland. The event was hugely valued by the civil servants who attended. “I send my condolences and best wishes to Lord Wallace’s family at this difficult time.” |
The Scottish launch of the General Election Campaign 2024. PHOTO shows Sir Jim Wallace and Willie Rennie both former leaders of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
PHOTO Alan Simpson
Left to Right Primus Most Rev Mark Strange and Moderator Lord Wallace
St Andrew’s Day was marked with the signing of a joint Declaration between the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church during a special service at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh.
