Jim Wallace had a more varied and wide-ranging political careers than most
The death of former Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace at the age of 71 has drawn heartfelt tributes from across the political spectrum.
The long-serving ex-leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats had a more varied and wide-ranging political career than most, not only sitting in the House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and later the House of Lords, but also holding senior roles in the Scottish Government and then the UK Government before going on to be Moderator of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly.
He helped shape Scotland’s devolution, leading his party in the Scottish Constitutional Convention, which brought together politicians, trade unions, churches and other organisations to produce the blueprint on which the new parliament was based.
He served as deputy to three First Ministers during the Lib Dems' coalition with Labour in the first two terms of the Scottish Parliament - Donald Dewar, Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell.
And he had three spells as Acting First Minister - during Donald Dewar's illness, after his death and following Henry McLeish's resignation.
After leaving Holyrood in 2007, he became a life peer and in 2010 was appointed Advocate General for Scotland in the UK Lib Dem-Conservative coalition.
Jack McConnell called him “the best of men”, “honest, reliable and filled with compassion”, “a fantastic adviser and friend” and “the best Deputy to three First Ministers that any of us could have hoped for”.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “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.”
First Minister John Swinney recalled “a man of principle, a man of faith, and a man of deep courtesy and kindness to everyone he encountered”.
And Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton described him as “one of the finest liberals our party has ever produced”. He said: “Jim was widely respected across party lines for his integrity, calm judgement and deep belief in liberal values.”
In contrast to the current angry, adversarial and bitter tone of politics, Jim Wallace represented a more tolerant, principled, honest and co-operative approach. It’s an example others would do well to follow.