Following a period of respite care, Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, has died peacefully in London at the age of 84. Widely known as "Ming," he served as the Liberal Democrat leader from 2006 to 2007 and was the Member of Parliament for North East Fife for 28 years.
Before his political career, Sir Menzies was an accomplished athlete, earning the nickname "The Flying Scotsman." He competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and held the UK 100m record from 1967 to 1974.
Tributes and Condolences
Current Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey paid tribute to Sir Menzies as "a dedicated public servant and a true Liberal giant." He praised his "principled leadership against the Iraq War" as a "mark of his moral courage and wisdom." He also described him as "an incredibly generous and caring friend and colleague" who will be "missed terribly."
Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, expressed his condolences, calling Sir Menzies "one of the country's most well-liked political figures." Swinney noted that Sir Menzies was "a passionate believer in a prosperous Scotland" and a "strong internationalist." He added that those in public service today "could learn a lot from his style," which was "always forthright in speaking out for what he believes in, but never anything more than courteous, courteous, and polite to his political opponents."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP recalled his personal connection to Sir Menzies, stating, "The first political thing I ever did was to distribute leaflets for Ming on the morning of his first election to Parliament in 1987. He was my MP, he was my mentor, and he knew me well."
Wendy Chamberlain, the current MP for North East Fife, said that Sir Menzies "remained a significant figure" in the region and that his "contributions to our communities, to the University of St Andrews, as well as Scotland and the United Kingdom, were immeasurable." She mentioned that even after the death of his wife, he continued to travel to London to participate in the House of Lords until the "last weeks of his life."
A Life of Public Service
Born in a Glasgow tenement on May 22, 1941, Sir Menzies was educated at Hillhead High School and the University of Glasgow, where he studied law alongside future politicians John Smith and Donald Dewar. He later attended Stanford University in California during the Vietnam War before becoming an advocate. He was called to the Scottish bar in 1968 and became a QC (later KC) in 1982.
Sir Menzies first ran for Parliament as a Liberal Party candidate in 1976 but did not win his constituency for another eleven years. He took on the role of the party's foreign affairs spokesperson, a position he held for 14 years, and was a vocal critic of the Iraq War. In 2015, he became a member of the House of Lords with the official name Baron Campbell of Pittenweem.
Athletic and Personal Life
During his athletic career, Sir Menzies captained the British men's team at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. He famously set a new British 100-meter record of 10.2 seconds, in a race that he won by a margin of 2 seconds, which defeated a young OJ Simpson. At one time, he was regarded as "the world's fastest white man."
Sir Menzies was married to his wife Elspeth for over 50 years, describing her as his "continuous political companion, always my inspiration, and forever my first line of defense." Elspeth died in June 2023.
A former political companion reflected on Sir Menzies' time as party leader, noting that it was not a happy one. He was "the product of a persistent ageism" and often "caricatured as a grandfather" compared to younger rivals like Tony Blair and David Cameron. The companion recalled an incident where Sir Menzies, against his own preference for wearing a tie, appeared for a television interview in an open-necked shirt on the advice of consultants. This was a sign that he was "giving up," and he resigned not long after. The companion concluded that Sir Menzies' "wisdom, experience, and courtesy" were his top strengths, which were "undervalued attributes during his tenure at the top."
Sir Menzies' grandson was with him when he died. His family said that one of his last days was spent watching political broadcasts from his friends.
