Donald Dewar

The Right Honourable Donald Dewar
Official portrait, 1999
First Minister of Scotland
In office 13 May 1999 – 11 October 2000
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Deputy	Jim Wallace
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Jim Wallace (Acting) Henry McLeish
Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
In office 7 May 1999 – 11 October 2000
UK party leader	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Henry McLeish
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 2 May 1997 – 17 May 1999
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Michael Forsyth
Succeeded by	John Reid
show Shadow Cabinet posts Opposition Chief Whip of the House of Commons In office 19 October 1995 – 2 May 1997 Leader Tony Blair Preceded by Derek Foster Succeeded by Alastair Goodlad Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security In office 24 July 1992 – 19 October 1995 Leader John Smith Margaret Beckett (acting) Tony Blair Preceded by Michael Meacher Succeeded by Chris Smith Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland In office 31 October 1983 – 24 July 1992 Leader Neil Kinnock Preceded by Bruce Millan Succeeded by Tom Clarke
show Parliamentary offices Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Anniesland In office 6 May 1999 – 11 October 2000 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Bill Butler Member of Parliament for Glasgow Anniesland Glasgow Garscadden (1978–1997) In office 13 April 1978 – 11 October 2000 Preceded by William Small Succeeded by John Robertson Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South In office 31 March 1966 – 18 June 1970 Preceded by Priscilla Buchan Succeeded by Iain Sproat
Personal details
Born	Donald Campbell Dewar (1937-08-21)21 August 1937 Glasgow, Scotland
Died	11 October 2000(2000-10-11) (aged 63) Edinburgh, Scotland
Cause of death	Cerebral hemorrhage
Political party	Scottish Labour
Spouse(s)	Alison McNair ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1973)​
Children	2
Education	University of Glasgow

Donald Campbell Dewar (21 August 1937 – 11 October 2000) was a Scottish politician who served as inaugural First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 1999 to 2000. He previously served as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997 to 1999. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Anniesland (formerly Glasgow Garscadden) from 1978 to 2000.^[1] Dewar was also Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the equivalent seat from 1999 to 2000.^[2]

Born in Glasgow, Dewar studied History, and later Law, at the University of Glasgow. Before entering politics, he worked as a Solicitor in Glasgow.^[3] At the age of 28, he was elected to British House of Commons, representing Aberdeen South from 1966 to 1970. After losing his seat, he returned to law and even hosted his own Friday evening talk show on Radio Clyde. Dewar was re-elected in the 1978 Glasgow Garscadden by-election and served as the MP until his death in 2000. Following Labour's landslide victory in 1997, he was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland by Prime Minister Tony Blair. As the Scottish secretary, he was an advocate of Scottish devolution, and campaigned in-favour for a Scottish Parliament in the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum. After a successful campaign, Dewar worked on creating the Scotland Act 1998.

Dewar led the Labour campaign through the first Scottish Parliament election and was elected a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Anniesland. On 7 May 1999, he was appointed Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and he led coalition talks with the Scottish Liberal Democrats. After successful talks, the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition was announced. Dewar was elected as first minister on 13 May 1999, by a vote of the parliament, and formed the first Scottish Executive cabinet. As first minister, he set out the legislative programme for the Executive which included: an Education bill to improve standards in Scottish schools; land reform to give right of access to the countryside, a bill to abolish the feudal system of land tenure; and a bill to establish National Parks in Scotland.^[4]

On 10 October 2000, Dewar sustained a fall and the following day he died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 63 while still in office. Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace served as the acting first minister, until Henry McLeish was announced to succeed Dewar. Often regarded as the "Father of the Nation",^[5] Dewar is known for his work and commitment to the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament and being the inaugural first minister of Scotland.^[6][7]

Early life and education[]

Donald Campbell Dewar was born on 21 August 1937 in Glasgow. He was the only child of Alasdair Dewar (1897–1973), a dermatologist, and Mary Dewar (née Bennett). Both of Dewar's parents had ill health during his childhood; his father contracted tuberculosis and his mother suffered from a benign brain tumour when he was young.^[8] He grew up in Glasgow and attended Mosspark Primary School and The Glasgow Academy.^[3]

Dewar at Glasgow University, 1959

Dewar attended University of Glasgow in 1957, where his father, mother, two uncles and aunt also attended. He was an editor of the Glasgow University Guardian. He met several future politicians at the university Dialectic Society, including John Smith, who would later become leader of the Labour Party, Sir Menzies Campbell, who would later become leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Lord Irvine of Lairg, who would serve as Lord Chancellor. At university, he also served as chair of Glasgow University Labour Club and president of the Glasgow University Union.^[3]

In 1961, Dewar gained a Master of Arts degree in History and in 1964 a second-class Bachelor of Law degree. After graduating, he worked as a Solicitor in Glasgow.^[3]

Early political career[]

Member of Parliament[]

Dewar was a member of the Labour Party, and soon turned his sights towards being elected to parliament. In 1962, he was selected as the Labour candidate for the Aberdeen South constituency. In the 1964 general election, he failed to win the seat, but won it at the 1966 general election at the age of 28—defeating Priscilla Tweedsmuir by 1,799 votes.^[9]

In his maiden speech to the House of Commons in the same year, Dewar spoke against a proposed increase on potato tax. His speech became his first political success: as the tax was repealed the following year in 1967. Also in 1967, Dewar was made a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Education Secretary Anthony Crosland, with whom Dewar later confessed to having never establishing a rapport with, as Dewar said Crosland was a "very odd man".

Dewar remained in that position at the Department of Education until 1969, in which year he opposed a visit to Aberdeen by the Springbok rugby team and staged a silent vigil near the team's ground. In April 1968, he was proposed for a minister of state position by Roy Jenkins, but was not appointed. Dewar lost his constituency seat to the Conservative candidate Iain Sproat at the 1970 general election by over 1,000 votes.

Out of parliament[]

Dewar spent much of the 1970s looking for another parliamentary seat. He hosted a Friday evening talk show on Radio Clyde, and in June 1971 was beaten by Dennis Canavan when he applied for the seat of West Stirlingshire. He worked as a solicitor for much of that decade and became a reporter on children's panels and was involved with the Lanarkshire local authority. Dewar became a partner in Ross Harper Murphy, in 1975.

Return to Westminster[]

Donald Dewar was selected for the seat Glasgow Garscadden by a majority of three, after Dewar's friend in the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers MP Willie Small died unexpectedly. He was returned to parliament at a by-election on 13 April 1978, a crucial victory which was seen as halting the rise of the Scottish National Party. In Scotland's first referendum on devolution, held in March 1979, he campaigned for a "Yes" vote alongside the Conservative Alick Buchanan-Smith and the Liberal Russell Johnston. Though they won a narrow majority, it fell short of the 40% required, contributing to the downfall of the Callaghan Government, in May 1979.

Opposition[]

Dewar gained a parliamentary platform as chairman of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. After a year honing his inquisitorial skills, he joined the front bench in November 1980 as a Scottish affairs spokesman when Michael Foot became party leader. In 1981, as the Labour Party divided itself further due to internal disagreement, Dewar was almost deselected in his constituency by hard left activists, but he successfully defended himself against this threat.

He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming Shadow Scottish Secretary in November 1983. On 21 December 1988, Dewar was in Lockerbie after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103,^[10] as the member of the Shadow Cabinet in charge of Scottish affairs. In 1992, John Smith made him Shadow Social security Secretary and three years later, Dewar was made a Chief Whip for the Labour Party by Tony Blair.

Secretary of State for Scotland[]

At the 1997 general election, he became MP for Glasgow Anniesland, which was mostly the same constituency with minor boundary changes. Labour won this election by a landslide, and Dewar was given the post of Secretary of State for Scotland. He was able to start the devolution process he dreamt of years earlier, and worked tirelessly on creating the Scotland Act, popularly referred to as "Smith's unfinished business". When ratified, this was to give Scotland its first Parliament for nearly 300 years.

First Minister of Scotland[]

Dewar (left) with Queen Elizabeth II and Presiding Officer David Steel (right) at the opening of the Scottish Parliament, July 1999

Dewar's premiership began on 13 May 1999, when he was officially appointed by the Queen and sworn in by the Court of Session. It followed the announcement of the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition that was formed following the election to the 1st Scottish Parliament. Dewar is the first ever first minister of Scotland. His premiership ended on 11 October 2000 following his death while still in office.^[3]

1999 Scottish Parliament election[]

In January 1998, he confirmed that he would stand for a seat in the Scottish Parliament.^[12] The first elections to the Scottish Parliament were held on 6 May 1999, with Dewar leading the Scottish Labour Party against their main opponents, the Scottish National Party led by Alex Salmond. He was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Anniesland, having the unusual distinction of being both an MP and MSP for the same constituency.

Entering government[]

Although Scottish Labour won more seats than any other party, they did not have a majority in Parliament to allow them to form an Executive without the help of a smaller party. A deal was agreed with the Scottish Liberal Democrats to form a coalition, with Dewar agreeing to their demand for the abolition of up front tuition fees for university students.^[13]

On 13 May 1999, Dewar was nominated as first minister, and was officially appointed by the Queen on 17 May at a ceremony in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He later travelled to the Court of Session to be sworn in by the lord president and receive the Great Seal of Scotland.^[14]

Legislation proposals[]

On 16 June, Dewar set out the legislative programme for the Executive which included: an Education bill to improve standards in Scottish schools; land reform to give right of access to the countryside, a bill to abolish the feudal system of land tenure; and a bill to establish National Parks in Scotland.^[4]

Lobbygate scandal[]

One of the first scandals to hit the new Scottish Parliament occurred when allegations that the lobbying arm of public relations company Beattie Media had privileged access to ministers were published, prompting Dewar to ask the standards committee to investigate the reports.^[15] The minister for finance, Jack McConnell, was called to appear before the standards committee during the investigation although he was later cleared of any wrongdoing and the committee declared there was no evidence he had been influenced from lobbying by Beattie Media.^[16]

Dewar also threatened to sack any minister or aide who briefed the media against another member of the Scottish Executive, following public rows between Jack McConnell and Health Minister Susan Deacon over the budget allocated to health .^[17]

2000 SQA examinations controversy[]

The introduction in Scotland of the reformed examinations system in 2000 was criticised in the press and by the Government after a series of administrative and computer errors led to several thousand incorrect Higher and Intermediate certificates being sent out by post. The crisis took several months to resolve, and several management figures including the Chief Executive, Ron Tuck, resigned or lost their jobs as a result.

Death and funeral[]

In April 2000, Dewar was admitted to hospital for tests on his heart, following a previous test where a minor irregularity was discovered.^[18] In May 2000, he had surgery to repair a leaking heart valve, and was forced to take a three-month break from Parliament, with Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace taking over as acting first minister.^[19] He returned to work on 14 August 2000.^[20]

Dewar dealt with the 2000 exam results controversy and the lorry drivers' strike, and attended the Labour Party conference in Brighton, but at the end of September he told the historian Tom Devine in Dublin that if there was no surge of the energy of old, he would have to reappraise the situation within a few months.^[21]

On 10 October 2000 around lunchtime, Dewar sustained a fall. He seemed fine at first, but later that day suffered a massive brain haemorrhage which was possibly triggered by the anticoagulant medication he was taking following heart surgery. He died the following day in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital, never having regained consciousness. He was 63 years old.

Dewar's funeral service was held at Glasgow Cathedral, he was cremated on 18 October 2000 and his ashes were scattered at Lochgilphead in Argyll.

"Although he has become something of a political legend, Donald would have abhorred any attempt to turn him into some kind of secular saint. He would have been horrified at a Diana-style out-pouring of synthetic grief at his untimely death." — Iain Macwhirter, Sunday Herald, 15 October 2000.

Legacy[]

In 2002, a nine-foot (2.7 m) bronze statue of Dewar was erected outside Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall in a ceremony attended by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, and other Scottish politicians.^[22]

Bust of Donald Dewar by Archie Forrest in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow

Dewar's work for the Scottish Parliament has led him to be called the "Father of the Nation".^[23][24]

In May 2002, then Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a statue of Donald Dewar at the top of Glasgow's Buchanan Street, a street in Glasgow city centre. In keeping with his famous unkempt appearance, it showed Dewar wearing a slightly crushed jacket.

The statue was taken down in October 2005 to be cleaned, and was re-erected on 6-foot (1.8 m) high plinth in December in an effort to protect it from vandalism. On the base of the statue were inscribed the opening words of the Scotland Act: "There Shall Be A Scottish Parliament", a phrase to which Dewar himself famously said, "I like that!"

Dewar called the Old Royal High School on Calton Hill in Edinburgh a "nationalist shibboleth", mainly because it had been the proposed site of the Scottish Assembly in the 1979 referendum. Dewar's opposition to the Calton Hill site partly contributed to the selection of the Holyrood site, which proved expensive.

The First ScotRail Class 334 train 334001 was named Donald Dewar in his memory. The "Dewar Arts Award" was created by the Scottish Executive in 2002 dedicated to his memory. This award supports talented young Scottish artists.^[25]

Personal life[]

On 20 July 1964, Dewar married Alison Mary McNair, with whom he had two children: a daughter, Marion, and a son, Ian. In 1972, McNair separated from Dewar and entered a relationship with the then Derry Irvine, a prominent Scottish barrister in London. Dewar and his wife divorced in 1973, and he never remarried.^{[citation needed]} Dewar and Lord Irvine of Lairg never reconciled, even though they later served in the same Cabinet from May 1997 until 1999.

In September 2009, Dennis Canavan said Dewar reacted callously when his son was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1989. The disease eventually killed him. Canavan said Dewar remarked, "Oh no! That's all we need. He was mad enough before but I shudder to think what he'll be like now."^[26]

Dewar amassed a personal fortune in excess of £2,000,000 including public utility shares, antiques and artwork with a value of over £400,000.^[27]

References[]

Sources[]

• Hutcheon, Paul (3 August 2009). "Dewar savaged as 'hypocritical and petty' in Canavan book". The Herald. Glasgow.^{[permanent dead link]}
• Torrance, David (2006), The Scottish Secretaries, Birlinn
• "Lockerbie Bombing: 10th Anniversary". Edinburgh: Government of the United Kingdom. 22 December 1998.
• "Lawyer in Irvine". Irvine: Usman. 21 December 1999.
• MacAskill, Ewen; Seenan, Gerard (14 May 1999). "PR deal will end councils stranglehold". The Guardian. London.
• "UK Politics – Dewar appointed as first minister". BBC News. 17 May 1999. a.
• "Dewar's statement to Parliament". BBC News. 16 June 1999. b.
• "Blair unveils Dewar memorial". BBC News. 7 May 2002.
• "Dewar undergoes heart test". BBC News. 25 April 2000. a.
• "Dewar takes post-op steps". BBC News. 11 May 2000. b.
• "First Minister returns to the fray". BBC News. 14 August 2000. c.
• Allan, Charlie (12 October 2000). "A man apart, yet a man of the people". The Herald. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Donald Dewar.

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Donald Dewar
• Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Donald Dewar
• Works by or about Donald Dewar in libraries (WorldCat catalog)