The Rt Hon Donald Campbell Dewar
Statue of Donald Dewar in Glasgow's Buchanan Street Donald Dewar is a farmer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1712x2288, 563 KB) Statue of Scottish politician Donald Dewar, standing at the north end of Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland. ...
1st First Minister of Scotland
In office May 7, 1999 – October 11, 2000
Deputy	Jim Wallace
Preceded by	office created
Succeeded by	Henry McLeish
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Anniesland
In office 6 May 1999 – October 11, 2000
Preceded by	new constituency
Succeeded by	Bill Butler
Born	August 21, 1937(1937-08-21) Glasgow, Scotland
Died	October 11, 2000 (aged 63)
Political party	Labour

Donald Campbell Dewar (August 21, 1937 – October 11, 2000) was the first First Minister of Scotland from 1999 until his death in 2000. He was the first person to hold the position of First Minister following the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. The First Minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ; Scots: ) is, in practice, the political leader of Scotland, as head of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the Scottish Parliament. ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The Deputy First Minister of Scotland is, as the name suggests, the Deputy to the First Minister of Scotland. ... The Right Honourable Jim Wallace QC (born August 25, 1954 in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway) is a Scottish politician, first leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, first Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Executive, and and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney. ... Henry McLeish (born June 15, 1948) is a Scottish politician. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... Glasgow Anniesland is a constituency represented in the Scottish Parliament. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Bill Butler (born March 30, 1956, Glasgow) is a Scottish Labour Party politician and former teacher. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The First Minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ; Scots: ) is, in practice, the political leader of Scotland, as head of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the Scottish Parliament. ... This article is about the country. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... This article is about the year. ...

Dewar was first elected to the British House of Commons in 1966, later becoming Secretary of State for Scotland in 1997 following the election of a Labour government under Tony Blair. As Secretary of State for Scotland he oversaw the passing of the Scotland Act 1998 which created the devolved Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive. He led the Scottish Labour Party during the first elections to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, and became First Minister following the formation of a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition government. Type Lower House Speaker of the House of Commons Leader of the House of Commons Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Harriet Harman, QC, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Theresa May, PC, (Conservative) since December 6, 2005 Members 646 Political groups... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Labour Party is an Anti-English political party in the United Kingdom. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster. ... Devolution or home rule is the granting of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... The Scottish Parliament election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on May 6th, 1999. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ...

Education and career

Born at 194 Renfrew Street Glasgow on 21 August 1937 to quite elderly parents, Dewar was an only child. His father Alisdair was a distinguished consultant dermatologist but suffered from tuberculosis. His mother Mary (née Bennett) had a brain tumour when Donald was very young. For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Dermatology is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin, its structure, functions, and diseases (from Greek derma, skin), as well as its appendages (nails, hair, sweat glands). ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ... A brain tumor is any mass created by an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells either found in the brain (neurons, glial cells, epithelial cells, myelin producing cells, etc. ...

He attended Glasgow Academy before studying at the University of Glasgow, where he gained both LL.B and MA degrees as well as editing the Glasgow University Guardian. Here, he met his close friend John Smith—who would later become leader of the British Labour Party—through the debating society. In his time at university he also served as President of the Glasgow University Union and was a member of the Glasgow University Labour Club. The Glasgow Academy is the oldest fully-independent school in Glasgow, Scotland. ... Master of Theology (MTh) Dentistry Nursing Affiliations Russell Group, Universitas 21 Website http://www. ... The degree of Bachelor of Laws is the principal academic degree in law in the majority of common law countries other than the United States, where it has been replaced by the Juris Doctor degree. ... A Master of Arts is a postgraduate academic masters degree awarded by universities in North America and the United Kingdom (excluding the ancient universities of Scotland and Oxbridge. ... Guardian front page from March 2006 with stories on unfair bank charges and the death of a student. ... John Smith QC (September 13, 1938 – May 12, 1994) was a British politician who served as leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his sudden and unexpected death from a heart attack on 12 May 1994. ... The Labour Party is a centre-left or social democratic political party in Britain (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ... The front aspect of Glasgow University Union Glasgow University Union (GUU) is one of the students unions operating at the University of Glasgow. ...

Early political career

A member of the Labour Party, Dewar worked as a solicitor in Glasgow before being elected at the age of 28 in the 1966 general election to the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster to represent the marginal constituency of Aberdeen South. In his maiden speech in the Commons Dewar railed against proposed increase on potato tax. This was his first notable success - the tax was repealed in 1967. In 1967 he was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Education Secretary Anthony Crosland, who Dewar confessed later to never really establishing a rapport with. He held that position until 1969 but was proposed in April 1968 for a Minister of State position by Roy Jenkins. Nothing came of this though. The Labour Party is an Anti-English political party in the United Kingdom. ... A solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, but not the United States (in the United States the word has a quite different meaning—see below). ... The UK general election in 1966 was called by Harold Wilson because his government, elected in the 1964 election, had an unworkably small majority. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons The Right Honourable Michael Martin MP Lord Speaker Hélène Hayman, Baroness Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups (as of May 5, 2005 elections) Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ... Aberdeen South is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... In England and Wales, a common is a piece of land over which other people -- often neighbouring landowners -- could exercise one of a number of traditional rights, such as allowing their cattle to graze upon it. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a junior role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament (MP). ... The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government. ... Charles Anthony Raven Crosland (29 August 1918 - 19 February 1977) was a member of the Labour Party and an important socialist theorist. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ... Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, OM, PC (November 11, 1920 – January 5, 2003) was a British politician and a prominent Labour Member of Parliament in the 1960s and 1970s, and founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). ...

Despite his early political success, his personal life was less happy. He married Alison Mary McNair who was six years his junior on 20 July 1964. Dewar had a daughter, Marion, and a son, Ian with her, but in 1970 she left him for the Scottish lawyer Derry Irvine.^[1] The two men remained unreconciled, even though they later served in the same Cabinet from May 1997 until 1999, when Dewar left Westminster to become First Minister. 1970 was a black year for Dewar. As well as his wife leaving him, he lost his parliamentary seat in the 1970 general election and was laid up with back trouble. He and his wife divorced in 1973, and Dewar never remarried. is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine, Lord Irvine of Lairg, QC, PC (born June 23, 1940), known as Derry Irvine, is a British lawyer and political figure who served as Lord Chancellor under his former pupil Tony Blair. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on June 18, 1970, and resulted in a surprise loss of power for Labour under Harold Wilson, who was replaced as Prime Minister by the Conservative leader, Edward Heath. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ...

Shadow Cabinet

After a political hiatus during the 1970s, Donald Dewar was returned to Westminster as the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Garscadden at a by-election in 1978 following the death of Labour MP William Small. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a member of the Shadow Cabinet in 1984. In 1992 John Smith made him Shadow Social Security Secretary. In 1995, Dewar was made a Chief Whip for the Labour Party by Tony Blair, and when the Labour Party was declared the majority party in the 1997 election, he was given the post of Secretary of State for Scotland. Glasgow Garscadden was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1974 until 1997. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... William Watson Small (19 October 1909 - 18 January 1978) was a British Labour Member of Parliament for Glasgow Scotstoun (1959-1974) and Glasgow Garscadden (1974-1978). ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose... This article is about the year. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Social security primarily refers to social welfare service concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ...

On 21 December 1988, Dewar was in Lockerbie after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, [1] as the member of the Shadow Cabinet in charge of Scottish affairs. is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from Londons Heathrow International Airport to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. ...

Secretary of State for Scotland

By this stage, Dewar was in a position which the late John Smith would never have thought possible. He was able to start the devolution process, and worked endlessly on creating the Scotland Act, popularly known as Smith's "unfinished business". When ratified, this was to give Scotland its first Parliament for nearly 300 years. The Scotland Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ...

First Minister

The first elections to the Scottish Parliament were held on May 6, 1999, with Dewar leading the Scottish Labour Party against their main opponents, the SNP under Alex Salmond. He was elected as the MSP for Glasgow Anniesland. Although Scottish Labour won the most seats, 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 demands for the introduction of proportional representation for local council elections, and scrapping tuition fees for university students.^[2] For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond, known as Alex Salmond (born 31 December 1954 ) (age 52)), has been nominated by the Scottish Parliament as First Minister of Scotland. ... Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) (Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba (BPA) in Gaelic) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament. ... Glasgow Anniesland is a constituency represented in the Scottish Parliament. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. ...

On May 13, Dewar was nominated as First Minister, and was officially appointed by the Queen on May 17 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.^[3] is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace, originally founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 15th century. ... The Court of Session is the supreme civil court in Scotland. ... The Great Seal of Scotland allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. ...

On June 16, 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] is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about national parks. ...

Controversies

One of the first scandals to hit the new 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.^[5] 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.^[6] Jack Wilson McConnell (born June 30, 1960 in Irvine, North Ayrshire) is a former First Minister of Scotland, leader of the Scottish Labour Party and current Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. ...

Dewar also threatened to sack any Minister or aide who briefs the media against another member of the Executive, following public rows between Jack McConnell and the Minister of Health and Community Care, Susan Deacon over the budget allocated to health .^[7] The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in Scotland is a cabinet position in the devolved Scottish Executive. ... Susan Deacon (born February 2, 1964) is a prominent Scottish politician, and Labour MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. ...

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.^[8] He later 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.^[9]. He returned to work in August 2000. The Deputy First Minister of Scotland is, as the name suggests, the Deputy to the First Minister of Scotland. ... The Right Honourable Jim Wallace QC (born August 25, 1954 in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway) is a Scottish politician, first leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, first Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Executive, and and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney. ...

On 10 October 2000 around lunchtime, he sustained a fall. He seemed fine at first but later that day suffered a massive brain hemorrhage which was possibly triggered by the anticoagulant medication he was taking after the heart surgery. He died one day later, at 12.18pm, in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital, at the age of 63. is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A cerebral hemorrhage is a condition in the brain in which a blood vessel leaks. ... An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. ... The Western General is one of the main teaching hospitals affiliated to the University of Edinburgh Medical School. ...

His funeral service was held at Glasgow Cathedral, amid scenes of mourning unknown for a politician in Scotland's largest city. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at Lochgilphead. Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral is a Church of Scotland cathedral in Glasgow. ... Lochgilphead Location within the British Isles Lochgilphead (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Loch Gilb) is a burgh of around 3000 people in Scotland, the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute, the council being based at Kilmory Castle, around which is located a woodland park and an Iron Age fort. ...

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, October 15, 2000. Herald is a common name for newspapers throughout the English-speaking world, and the Sunday editions are often called Sunday Herald. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

Legacy

Donald Dewar's work for the Scottish Parliament has led him to be called by some the "Father of the Nation" despite some of the difficulties that the Scottish Parliament has suffered in its early years. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

In May 2002, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair unveiled a statue of Dewar at the top of Glasgow's Buchanan Street — and 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 high plinth in December of the same year in an effort to deter the relentless vandalism to which the statue was being subjected. 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! . For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Buchanan Street looking southward. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Dewar notoriously called the Royal High School on Calton Hill in Edinburgh a "nationalist shibboleth", mainly because it had been the proposed site of the Scottish Assembly if the 1979 referendum had passed. Dewar's opposition to the Calton Hill site partly contributed to the selection of the Holyrood site, which proved massively expensive. The Royal High School (RHS) in Edinburgh can trace its roots back to 1128, and is generally considered as the oldest school in Scotland and one of the oldest in Europe; it may even be one of the oldest surviving in the world. ... Calton hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Derbyshire, showing Olivine Diorite magma chamber. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... Walter Thomas Monningtons 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the law that ended Scottish independence. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A devolved Scottish Assembly that would have some form of legislative powers in jurisdiction over Scotland was a long-held political priority for many individuals and organisations. ... The Scottish referendum of 1979 was a post-legislative referendum held in Scotland only, over whether there was support for Scotland Act 1978, which if passed would have created an assembly for Scotland. ... Holyrood is an area in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. ... The new Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood designed by the Catalan architect Enric Miralles and opened in October 2004. ...

References

Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006) Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ...

v • d • e First Ministers of Scotland
Donald Dewar · Henry McLeish · Jack McConnell · Alex Salmond

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