Henry_McLeish

Henry McLeish

Henry McLeish

First minister of Scotland from 2000 to 2001

Henry Baird McLeish (born 15 June 1948) is a Scottish politician, author, academic and former professional footballer who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2000 to 2001. With a term of 1 year, 12 days, he is the shortest serving holder of that office. He served as the Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 2000 to 2001.

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Born and raised into a Labour supporting coal mining family in Fife, McLeish dropped out of Buckhaven High School at the age of fifteen to pursue a professional career in football. Playing wing half, he was first signed for Leeds United F.C., but after experiencing homesickness, McLeish returned to his native of Fife to play for East Fife F.C.. Making more than 108 appearances, he was one of the youngest ever players to play in Scottish professional football. McLeish's career was cut short after an injury and he returned to education, studying at Heriot-Watt University.

McLeish joined the Labour Party in 1970 and was later elected to the Fife Regional Council, where he served as the council's leader from 1982 to 1987. After several unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the British House of Commons, McLeish was successful in the 1987 general election, when he was elected as member of parliament for Central Fife. He served successively in Labour's opposition benches for ten years, before being appointed minister of state for Scotland under Prime Minister Tony Blair following the party's landslide victory in the 1997 election. McLeish served as Donald Dewar's 'right-hand man' in the Scottish Office and was instrumental in assisting Dewar with the creation of the Scotland Act, which established of the Scottish Parliament after nearly 300 years. In the first election to the reconvened parliament in 1999, he was elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Central Fife constituency. Following the appointment as Dewar as the inaugural first minister of Scotland, he served in the first Scottish Executive as the minister for enterprise and lifelong learning from 1999 to 2000.

Dewar died in office of a brain haemorrhage on 11 October 2000, which triggered a leadership contest within the Labour Party to find a successor, with McLeish declaring his candidacy. He led a successful and short campaign after defeating finance minister Jack McConnell. McLeish was sworn into office as first minister of Scotland on 26 October 2000. He oversaw the implementation of the McCrone Agreement for teachers in Scotland and strongly advocated free personal care for the elderly scheme. His tenure as first minister was short, as he resigned the following year following a financial scandal referred to as "Officegate"; the first major scandal the Scottish Parliament had faced since its reincarnation two years earlier. He was succeeded by McConnell, who he had beaten in the previous leadership election. McLeish sat as a backbencher, before stepping down as an MSP at the 2003 election.

Since leaving office, McLeish has remained politically active and has written several books. In 2007, he was appointed to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission and the following year he chaired the Scottish Prisons Commission.[1] In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, he campaigned in favour of remaining in the UK. However, following the Brexit referendum, McLeish stated he would back another Scottish independence referendum if Scotland was taken out of the EU against its wishes.

Early life and education

Henry Baird McLeish[2] was born at 50 Morar Street in Methil, Fife,[3] on 15 June 1948, to Harry McLeish (1923-2009) and Mary Slaven Baird (1925-1985).[4][5][6] Born into a "strong Christian socialist influence" household in central Fife, where his father and grandfather worked as coal miners for a private company, McLeish's grandmother was a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party for seventy years.[7][8] He was named after his maternal grandfather.[9] McLeish grew up on Morar Street, before moving to Institution Row, a miner community, when he was two or three. The family moved to a new housing estate for mineworkers in the old village of Kennoway, where his younger brother Ronald was born.[10]

McLeish was educated at the Buckhaven High School,[11] where he became involved with the school's football team.[12] He met his childhood sweetheart while attending the school, Margaret Drysdale, and they married in 1968.[13] While a pupil at the school, he was "too concerned with football", having been told by his headmaster he had no future in education.[14]

McLeish returned to education following his injury, studying at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh from 1968 to 1973. He graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Town Planning.[15] After graduating, McLeish worked as a research officer at Edinburgh Corporation's department of social work from 1973 to 1974, then as a planning officer for Fife County Council from 1974 to 1975 and Dunfermline District Council from 1975 to 1987. He also worked as a part-time lecturer and tutor at Heriot-Watt University from 1973 to 1986.[16]

Professional football career

In 1963, McLeish left school at the age of 15 to become a professional football player.[14] His rector wrote on his school report card: "I am glad the boy is a good footballer as he has no future in education."[17] He was first signed with Leeds United, however, after experiencing homesickness, he returned to Scotland to play for East Fife, where he made 108 appearances.[18][19] He played wing-half and was one of the youngest ever players to play in Scottish professional football. His first game for East Fife was at Hampden Park against the Glasgow team, Queen's Park.[20][21]

At the age of 18, McLeish trialled for a Scotland youth national team, playing against a group of footballers from Motherwell, but they lost 5–2.[22] The Daily Record reported on the match and stated McLeish was the only young Scot to impress.[23] He was later selected for the Scotland team to play in the World Youth Cup, hosted by Yugoslavia.[23] McLeish also played for junior football clubs; St Andrews United and Glenrothes Juniors.[23] His footballing career was cut short by a leg injury, and he returned to education.[24]

Early political career

Entry into local government; 1970–1987

McLeish joined the Scottish Labour Party in 1970 and he became chairman of the Young Socialists.[25] He first contested in an election for the Glenwood ward in Glenrothes but he was beaten by the sitting Scottish Conservative councillor.[25] He began his political career on the Kirkcaldy District Council from 1974 to 1977, serving as the council's planning committee chairman. He later served on the Fife Regional Council 1978 to 1987 and served as the as leader of Fife Regional Council from 1982. As the council leader, he implemented a "municipal socialist" manifesto, proposing free bus passes and TV licences for pensioners.[15]

At the 1979 UK general election, he ran for the East Fife constituency for the British House of Commons. McLeish was unsuccessful, having been placed third, behind the Conservatives' Barry Henderson and the Liberals' Menzies Campbell. In 1981, he began to challenge Willie Hamilton in the Central Fife constituency. Hamilton was a right-wing Labour MP known nationally for his anti-monarchy views. He gave up his attempts to retain his candidacy, allowing McLeish to run in the 1987 election.[15]

Labour in opposition; 1987–1997

The Labour Party failed to defeat Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party in the 1987 election and McLeish served in several shadow spokesman portfolios, including education and employment from 1988 to 1989 and employment and training from 1989 to 1992. Despite the end of Thatcher's eleven-year tenure, Labour failed again to defeat the incumbent Conservatives, returning to opposition. McLeish served as shadow minister for the Scottish Office from 1992 to 1994.[15]

In 1994, following Tony Blair's election as Leader of the Labour Party, McLeish served successively as the shadow minister for transport from 1994 to 1995, shadow minister for health from 1995 to 1996, and shadow minister for social security from 1996 to 1997.[15]

1997 Scottish devolution referendum

At the 1997 UK general election, McLeish served as Labour's election campaign director for Scotland. In the election, Labour defeated the Conservatives in a landslide victory. He was appointed by Blair as the Minister of State for Scotland, with responsibility for home affairs and devolution. McLeish worked alongside Donald Dewar on the Scotland Act 1998, which established the Scottish Parliament.[15]

As Dewar's right-hand man in Westminster, McLeish helped secure devolution for Scotland and manoeuvre the Scotland Act through the Westminster Parliament.[15]

Dewar administration; 1999–2000

McLeish, third from the right, seated at the first meeting of the Dewar government, 1999

After the creation of the Scottish Parliament in May 1999, McLeish was elected as MSP for Fife Central and became Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.[15]

2000 Labour leadership bid

Main article: 2000 Scottish Labour leadership election

On 11 October 2000, Dewar died of a brain haemorrhage following a fall outside Bute House the following day. Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace served as the acting First Minister, until the election of a new leader of Scottish Labour was held after Dewar's funeral. On 19 October, McLeish launched his bid to be the next leader of the Scottish Labour Party, with Jack McConnell later announcing his bid.[26]

The ballot was held amongst a restricted electorate of Labour MSPs and members of Scottish Labour's national executive, because there was insufficient time for a full election to be held. McLeish defeated his rival Jack McConnell by 44 votes to 36 in the race to become the second first minister.[27]

First Minister of Scotland (2000–2001)

Main article: Premiership of Henry McLeish
Queen Elizabeth II gives McLeish royal warrant of appointment ahead of his swearing-in as first minister of Scotland the Court of Session.

McLeish was officially sworn into office as first minister of Scotland on 27 October 2000 at the Court of Session in Edinburgh after receiving the Royal Warrant of Appointment by Queen Elizabeth II.[28][29] The following day, he formed his administration, which was a continuation of the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition.[30]

September 11 attacks

McLeish with President of the United States George W. Bush in the Oval Office, April 2001

McLeish was First Minister during the time of the September 11 attacks in the United States, and watched the events unfold in his office in St Andrews House, the HQ of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.[31] McLeish has spoken about his serious concern about the defence strategies in place within Scotland to protect the country from a terrorist attack of a similar nature. He initially worried about Scotland's major cities, such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen being targets based on their economic strength and significance to the Scottish, UK and European economies.[31] In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, McLeish focussed on strengthening security, protection and defence systems in Scotland to ensure the country was equipped to deal with a large scale terrorist attack. McLeish lead the then Scottish Executive to working with the UK Government to ensure appropriate measures and strengthen security was in place within Scotland.[31]

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks in the United States, McLeish instructed all airports in Scotland to be on alert and tighten their security measures.[32]

On 13 September 2001, McLeish moved a motion in the Scottish Parliament to send condolences to the people of the United States and New York.[32] Through the motion, McLeish said "the Parliament condemns the senseless and abhorrent acts of terrorism carried out in the United States yesterday and extends our deepest sympathies to those whose loved ones have been killed or injured".[33]

As a Labour First Minister, and with a Labour UK Government in office at the time of the attacks under Tony Blair, McLeish initially supported the War on Terror, however stated in 2021 that he regrets that the war ultimately turned out as a "war on Islam".[31]

Governmental record

Neil Kinnock (left), Helen Liddel (centre) and McLeish (right), 2000

Professor John Curtice, a prominent political analyst, commented that McLeish would not have the "kind of authority" that Donald Dewar enjoyed.[27] He travelled widely, particularly in the United States. He managed several task forces designed to improve the competitiveness of Scottish industry, especially the PILOT project for Scottish oil and gas supply chains.

He was embarrassed when an open microphone recorded him with Helen Liddell in a television studio, describing Scottish Secretary John Reid as "a patronising bastard" and said of his colleague, Brian Wilson, "Brian is supposed to be in charge of Africa but he spends most of his time in bloody Dublin. He is a liability".[34]

Acts of Parliament

Whilst in government serving as first minister, McLeish oversaw and implemented the free personal care for the elderly scheme[35] as well as the implementation of the McCrone Agreement for education teachers in Scotland.[36]

Officegate and resignation

Main article: Officegate

McLeish resigned as first minister in November 2001, amid a scandal involving allegations he sub-let part of his tax-subsidised Westminster constituency office without it having been registered in the register of interests kept in the Parliamentary office.[citation needed]

The press called the affair Officegate. Though McLeish could not have personally benefited financially from the oversight, he undertook to repay the £36,000 rental income, and resigned to allow Scottish Labour a clean break to prepare for the 2003 Scottish Parliament election.[37] McLeish did not seek re-election.

Post-premiership

McLeish at a charity football match in 2011

Since leaving mainstream politics, McLeish has lectured widely in the United States, particularly at the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Arkansas, where he holds a visiting professorship shared between the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Arkansas School of Law. He is considered an expert on European-American relations and on the European Union.

In August 2007, he was appointed to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, established by the Scottish Government. He also chaired the Scottish Prisons Commission, which produced a report into sentencing and the criminal justice system in 2008 entitled "Scotland's Choice".[38] McLeish concluded a "major report" on the state of football in Scotland, which had been commissioned by the Scottish Football Association, in April 2010.[1]

McLeish claimed that Scottish football was "underachieving, under performing and under funded" at a press conference to unveil the report.[1]

Political views

Scottish devolution

As a strong devolutionist, he was one of the original signatories of the claim of right at the inaugural meeting of the 1989 Scottish constitutional convention which paved the way for devolution.

Scottish nationalism

In the run up to the referendum on Scottish independence on 18 September 2014, there was much media and public speculation towards whether McLeish backed a "No" vote to remain within the United Kingdom, or whether he supported a "Yes" vote in order to create an independent separate sovereign Scotland.

Speculation from the public came from media articles in which McLeish was reported to be talking negatively about the prospect of a "No" vote to remain within the union, but was later reported as stating it would be "near impossible" to vote Yes in the referendum.[39]

Following the 2016 UK referendum on EU membership, in which the majority of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, but the majority of the Scottish electorate voted to remain in the EU, McLeish has since claimed that he would support and campaign for an independent Scottish sovereign state and campaign for it to be a fully functioning member and participate fully within the European Union despite Brexit.[40] In September 2021, he reiterated that he would support independence if the union was not reformed.[41]

Titles and achievements

McLeish also holds the following positions and titles:

Authored books

  • Scotland First: Truth and Consequences (2004)[42]
  • Global Scots: Voices from Afar (with Kenny MacAskill) (2005) (published in the United Kingdom as Global Scots: Making It in the Modern World)[43][44]
  • Wherever the Saltire Flies (with Kenny MacAskill) (2006)[45]
  • Scotland: The Road Divides (with Tom Brown) (2007)[46]
  • Scotland: A Suitable Case for Treatment (with Tom Brown) (2009)[47]
  • Scotland The Growing Divide: Old Nation, New Ideas (with Tom Brown) (2012)[48]
  • Rethinking our Politics: The political and constitutional future of Scotland and the UK (2014)[49]
  • Citizens United: Taking Back Control in Turbulent Times – Viewpoints (2017)[50]
  • Scottish Football: Reviving the Beautiful Game (2018)[51]
  • People, Politics, Parliament: The Settled Will of the Scottish People (2022)[52]

Electoral history

Scottish Parliament

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UK Parliament

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Personal life

McLeish has four children. His first wife Margaret Drysdale, whom he had two children with, died in 1995 of stomach cancer. In 1998, he married Julie Fulton, a social worker for Fife Council.[56] They divorced in 2011 and the following year he married Karyn Nicholson.[57]

Notes

  1. Jim Wallace acted from 11 October 2000 to 26 October 2000
  2. Jim Wallace acted from 8 November 2001 to 27 November 2001
  3. Scottish Labour was known as the Labour Party in Scotland until the 2011 Murphy and Boyack review, when the title was changed to Leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

References

  1. [1]
    "Major report demands changes to Scottish football". BBC Sport. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  2. [2]
    Birth certificate of Henry Baird McLeish, born 1948, 459/2/224 Buckhaven – National Records of Scotland
  3. [3]
    Scotland First: Truth and Consequences. Mainstream Publishing. 2004. p. 13. ISBN 1840188677.
  4. [4]
    Scougall, Murray. "Doing it for dad: Henry McLeish on why he is driven to make life better for those dealing with dementia". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. [5]
    Birth and death certificate of Harry McLeish, born 1923, 459/2/42 Buckhaven; died 2009, 420/504 Glenrothes – National Records of Scotland
  6. [6]
    Birth and death certificate of Mary Slaven Baird, born 1925, 459/2/322 Buckhaven; died 1985, 419/2 Kennoway – National Records of Scotland
  7. [7]
    "Henry McLeish". The Guardian. 16 March 2001. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  8. [8]
    Alex, Michael; er. "Labour Party in midst of 'catastrophe' that could end its existence, warns former First Minister Henry McLeish". The Courier. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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    Scotland First: Truth and Consequences. Mainstream Publishing. 2004. p. 14. ISBN 1840188677.
  10. [10]
    Scotland First: Truth and Consequence. Mainstream Publishing. 2004. p. 15. ISBN 1840188677.
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    Smith, Craig. "End of term signals end of an era at Fife schools". The Courier. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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    "Buckhaven and Kirkland memorial: The great and the good discuss their treasured memories..." Fife Today. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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    Henry McLeish Archived 1 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 16 March 2001.
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    "Fall of the first minister no one wanted". The Guardian. 9 November 2001. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
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    HENRY McLEISH Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Newcastle Fans.
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    Scotland First: Truth and Consequences. Mainstream Publishing. 2004. p. 23. ISBN 1840188677.
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    Dewar's successor to seek more power for parliament Archived 21 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 23 October 2000.
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    Ross, Calum. "Henry McLeish feared Scotland was 'at risk' as September 11 attacks unfolded".
  32. [32]
    "*". parliament.scot.
  33. [33]
    "On this 9/11 anniversary, the need to become 'patriots of humanity' has never been more important – Henry McLeish". The Scotsman.
  34. [34]
    Labour's chiefs in 'comments row' Archived 4 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine BBC News. 8 June 2001
  35. [35]
    "Who have been Scotland's first ministers?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016.
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    "First Minister McLeish resigns". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016.
  38. [38]
    Scotland's Choice: Report of the Scottish Prisons Commission. Edinburgh: Scottish Government. 1 July 2008. ISBN 978-0-7559-5772-9. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  39. [39]
    "Scottish independence: Henry McLeish says 'voting No has become difficult'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014.
  40. [40]
    "Henry McLeish: I will back Scottish independence if UK leave EU against Scotland's wishes". Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
  41. [41]
    Learmonth, Andrew (24 September 2021). "Henry McLeish: 'Yes, I would support independence'". Holyrood Website.
  42. [42]
    Scotland First: Truth and Consequences. ASIN 1840188677.
  43. [43]
    MacAskill, Kenny; McLeish, Henry (2005). Global Scots: Voices from Afar. ISBN 9781905222377.
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    "Global Scots: Making it in the Modern World". Waterstones.com.
  45. [45]
    "Wherever the Saltire Flies". Waterstones.com.
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    Scotland: The Road Divides. ASIN 1906307245.
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    "Scotland: A Suitable Case for Treatment". Waterstones.com.
  48. [48]
    "Scotland The Growing Divide: Old Nation, New Ideas". Waterstones.com.
  49. [49]
    "Rethinking our Politics: The political and constitutional future of Scotland and the UK". Waterstones.com.
  50. [50]
    "Citizens United: Taking Back Control in Turbulent Times – Viewpoints". Waterstones.com.
  51. [51]
    "Scottish Football: Reviving the Beautiful Game". Waterstones.com.
  52. [52]
    "People, Politics, Parliament: The Settled Will of the Scottish People". Waterstones.com.
  53. [53]
    "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  54. [54]
    "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  55. [55]
    "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  56. [56]
    "BBC NEWS | In Depth | Donald Dewar | Henry McLeish?". BBC News. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  57. [57]
    Dailyrecord.co.uk (6 June 2012). "Ex-First Minister Henry McLeish ties the knot for the third time as he marries Canadian sweetheart". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
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