The political world mourns the passing of Jim Wallace, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, who has died at the age of 71 following complications after surgery. An influential Liberal figure who served Scottish and UK politics for over four decades, Wallace achieved the rare distinction in political life of being disliked by almost nobody.
A Distinguished Political Career
Wallace represented the Orkney and Shetland constituency as a Liberal Democrat MP at Westminster for 18 years after his election in 1983, succeeding the legendary Jo Grimond. His political journey began much earlier, with his first parliamentary contest in Dumfriesshire in 1979, guided by mentor David Steel who recognised his potential and directed him towards the northern isles.
Scottish Devolution Pioneer
Wallace's most significant contribution came as Scotland's deputy first minister from the very outset of devolution in 1999 until 2005. He served in this crucial role during the formative years of the Scottish Parliament, working alongside first ministers Donald Dewar and later Jack McConnell in the Labour-Lib Dem coalition government.
His ability to work collegiately and without political rancour made him widely acceptable in these roles. The early achievements of this coalition government included landmark policies that Wallace took particular pride in, including the removal of university tuition fees, freedom of information legislation, and significant steps towards land reform in Scotland.
Westminster and Coalition Politics
Wallace holds the unique distinction of being the only Liberal Democrat to serve in both coalition administrations in which the party participated. Following his retirement as an MSP, he made an unexpected return to ministerial office as advocate general for Scotland in the David Cameron-Nick Clegg coalition government of 2010-15.
His influence extended well beyond Scotland's borders. As Liberal chief whip at Westminster after the 1987 general election, he was widely credited with minimising opposition to the full-scale merger with the SDP that created the newly branded Liberal Democrats. Tavish Scott, who later succeeded him as leader of the Scottish Lib Dems, recalled that "that merger would not have happened had not Jim deployed his diplomacy, intellectual prowess and endless patience to what were at the time fraught negotiations."
Constituency Champion
Though born in Annan, Dumfriesshire, Wallace made Orkney and Shetland his political and family home. Distinctive constituency issues gave him opportunities to promote significant reforms that had national implications.
The Orkney child abuse scandal of 1991, when nine children were wrongly taken from their homes by social workers, led to major changes in child protection systems across the UK. Similarly, the Braer disaster in Shetland in 1993, when a tanker leaked 85,000 tonnes of crude oil, led to the Donaldson inquiry and far-reaching improvements to maritime safety regulations.
In these challenging situations, Wallace proved himself a measured but persistent defender of his constituents' interests, building on the legacy of his predecessor Jo Grimond while establishing his own reputation as a dedicated constituency MP.
Faith and Personal Life
Wallace's politics were closely aligned with his Christian beliefs, having grown up as a "cradle Presbyterian". His father served as an elder in Annan Old Parish church for 64 years, and Jim was confirmed in his faith while studying law at Cambridge University.
Later in life, he became an elder and sang in the choir of St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney. In 2021-22, he achieved the rare honour of becoming only the second layman in modern times to serve as moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, a role he described as "a more awe-inspiring chamber to address than the House of Commons."
An ecumenist by instinct, Wallace used his moderatorial year to advance declarations of friendship with the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Scottish Catholic Bishops' Conference, believing that unity strengthened the Christian witness in Scotland.
Health Challenges and Legacy
In 2023, Wallace faced serious health challenges when he was airlifted from Orkney to Edinburgh for emergency surgery to replace the artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Following his recovery, he campaigned alongside the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms, demonstrating his commitment to public service even in personal adversity.
Jack McConnell, who served as first minister while Wallace was deputy first minister, described him as "the most principled Liberal I ever met and also the most pragmatic politician. He was just great and knew what had to be done in order to work effectively in government."
Wallace is survived by his wife Rosie (Rosemary Fraser), a speech therapist he married shortly after his election to Parliament, and their two daughters, Helen and Clare. His passing marks the end of an era in Scottish and UK politics, leaving behind a legacy of principled pragmatism, cross-party cooperation, and dedicated public service that spanned four decades of political transformation.
