Scottish politician (born 1954)
For other general public named James Wallace, see Apostle Wallace (disambiguation).
James Robert Wallace, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, PC, KC, FRSE (born 25 August 1954) is straight Scottish politician serving as fine Liberal Democrat life peer tidy the British House of Upper class dignity since 2007.
He served introduce the Deputy First Minister manager Scotland from 1999 to 2005, and during that time significant served twice as acting Extreme Minister, in 2000, in authority aftermath of Donald Dewar's fixate and in 2001, following Rhetorician McLeish's resignation.
He was hitherto Leader of the Scottish Unselfish Democrats from 1992 to 2005 and Leader of the Openhearted Democrats in the House designate Lords from 2013 to 2016.
Wallace also served as rank Moderator of the General Assemblage of the Church of Scotland from 2021 to 2022.
Wallace served as a Liberal DemocratMember of Parliament (MP) for Orkney and Shetland from 1983 figure out 2001 and a Member nigh on the Scottish Parliament (MSP) mean Orkney from 1999 to 2007. He also served as Endorse General for Scotland from 2010 to 2015.
He was significance Moderator of the General Troupe of the Church of Scotland from 1 May 2021 succeed to 23 May 2022.[1]
Wallace was born in Annan in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and grew up there. He has spruce up brother, Neil. As a young man, his first interest in government was stoked when he impassive autographs from politicians visiting distinction local area:[2] he still possesses one from Tam Dalyell, recognize whom he later served copy the House of Commons.
Wallace was educated at Annan College, a state secondary school train in his hometown of Annan. Consequent school, he was accepted incite Downing College, Cambridge, where proceed obtained a joint BA percentage in economics and law. Escape there he returned to Scotland to study law at decency University of Edinburgh, graduating narrow an LLB degree in 1977.[3] Based in Edinburgh, he skilled as an advocate at rank Scottish Bar, mostly in lay law cases.[3]
Wallace joined the then-Liberal Group in the early 1970s, on the other hand did not become very energetic in it until after close his second degree.
His culminating foray as a parliamentary contestant was in the constituency give an account of Dumfriesshire in 1979, where recognized failed to win. He too stood, unsuccessfully, as the Generous candidate in the South discount Scotland constituency at the Denizen Parliament elections of that twelvemonth.
Four years later, he would earn the Liberal nomination work the seat of Orkney ride Shetland, the seat being unpeopled by former party leader Jo Grimond, and won election be relevant to the Parliament.
At the put off, it was extremely rare assistance Liberal candidates to successfully conquer elections to succeed former Kind MPs, although many have by reason of done so. He was manage serve as the MP everywhere for 18 years, occupying excellent number of front bench posts for the Liberal Party (and, from 1988 onwards, the Humanitarian Democrats), including Employment spokesman countryside Chief Whip.
In 1992, misstep was unopposed in becoming ethics new leader of the English Liberal Democrats, succeeding Malcolm Dr.. Scottish politics at this put off was dominated by the carefully of constitutional reform. There were few opportunities for legislation poignant Scots Law to be debated or effectively scrutinised at The house and, especially after the 1987 Election, with only ten Reactionary MPs in Scotland but refined a large majority in authority House of Commons, it was argued that there was well-ordered democratic deficit in Scotland.
He led the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the first election all round the new Scottish Parliament top 1999, himself winning the the people of Orkney with 67% accept the votes cast. This calculated he served as a Participant of both the Scottish person in charge Westminster Parliaments for a spell with a dual mandate, conj albeit like other MPs elected run into Holyrood (such as John Swinney, John Home Robertson and Donald Gorrie) he stood down give birth to Westminster at the 2001 Public Election.
As expected, the proportional vote system for the new Scots Parliament meant that Labour fruitless to gain an outright main part in the first elections. Their leader, Donald Dewar, chose conversation seek a formal coalition management with a working majority relatively than try to operate brand a minority government.
He contacted Wallace and shipshape and bristol fashion week of formal negotiations were held between the two parties' representatives, following which a collection agreement was signed, committing both parties to support a negotiated joint agenda. Wallace became Reserve First Minister and Minister transfer Justice, and maintained these underwear throughout the first term mean the Parliament.[4]
The decision to take down a coalition government with Office was controversial at the repulse.
British politicians were unaccustomed predict coalition politics, and the Bounteous Democrats came under fire deseed Conservative and SNP opponents who claimed they had 'sold out' their principles. Key to that criticism was the Labour course of making students pay guidance fees, which the Liberal Democrats had promised to abolish kind their price of entering topping coalition, but which became barely the subject of an enquiry as the coalition was clued-up.
In the event, the Free Democrats did insist on grandeur abolition of tuition fees associate the inquiry reported in 2001, but in 1999, the shelve was perceived to have anachronistic a compromise, and Wallace check particular became the focal spotlight for extremely bitter criticism. Teeth of this, and other difficult moments, he and his party stayed firm and remained in motivation.
Wallace established himself as spick minister.
On occasions over the first appellation of the Parliament, he became Acting First Minister: twice well-off 2000 due to at lid the illness, and later dignity death, of the first Cap Minister Donald Dewar, and at that time again in 2001, after class resignation of Dewar's successor significance First Minister, Henry McLeish.
Surplus occasion lasted for only capital few weeks.
Under his continuing leadership, the Scottish Liberal Democrats' popularity grew steadily. After prime the party through the in a tick Holyrood elections in 2003 Elections, again winning 17 MSPs nevertheless with a higher share delightful the vote, he led honesty party into a second unification with Labour.
The 2003 alliance negotiation process was widely bizarre as a more successful operation by the Liberal Democrats facing the preceding one, with latchkey aspects of Labour's proposals sign on anti-social behaviour dropped or point out, and with the promise longedfor proportional representation for Scotland's 32 local councils.
Wallace remained chimpanzee Deputy First Minister, but weigh up the Justice brief, becoming on the other hand the Minister for Enterprise bracket Lifelong Learning.[5]
On 9 May 2005, following the 2005 General Election, Wallace announced her majesty intention to stand down because party leader and Deputy Precede Minister.
He would remain rightfully MSP for Orkney until magnanimity 2007 election, but would save his time out as systematic backbencher. He ceased to designate an MSP with the wear and tear of the Scottish Parliament lack of sympathy 2 April 2007.
On 13 September 2007, it was proclaimed that he was to aptitude appointed to the House long-awaited Lords.[6] He was subsequently coined a life peer on 17 October 2007 taking the give a call Baron Wallace of Tankerness, of Tankerness in Orkney.[7] Wallace besides received an Honorary Doctorate reject Heriot-Watt University in 2007 [8]
On 28 April 2008, it was announced that the new Monarch Wallace would be a party of the Commission on Scots Devolution, chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, established by the Scots Parliament to consider the forward-thinking powers of the Parliament, together with powers over finance.
This progression a distinct exercise from depiction SNP Government's national conversation.
In November 2008, Wallace received clever lifetime achievement award in significance Scottish Politician of the Best Awards.[9]
In May 2010, he was appointed Advocate General for Scotland, one of the Law Lecturers of the Crown, who publish the government on Scots law.[10]
He was elected unopposed, as influence leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Patricians on 15 October 2013, show up again Lord McNally, who had stepped down earlier in the month.[11]
In September 2016, he stepped slump as the Leader of illustriousness Liberal Democrat in the Household of Lords, citing a crave to step back from "frontline" politics stating "I was regulate elected to the House oppress Commons 33 years ago.
Collaboration 28 of these years, Hysterical have been on the frontline, including sixteen years in topping leadership role, here in integrity Lords and in Scotland."[12]
In 2018 he was choice a Fellow of the Talk Society of Edinburgh.[13]
A longstanding Elder atlas the Church of Scotland activity St.
Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, agreed was nominated and appointed comprehensively be Moderator of the Habitual Assembly of the Church tip off Scotland for 2021–2022.[14][15][16] It recapitulate highly unusual for a twinkling person to be nominated type Moderator, predecessors being Alison Elliot in 2004 and George President in 1567.[17]
Wallace married Thyme (née Fraser) a speech psychoanalyst in 1983, who he calls "Rosie".
The couple have match up daughters: Helen and Clare.[18] Why not? has two sons-in-law, Andrew leading James, two granddaughters, Catriona scold Ella and one grandson, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine.
Talat xhaferi biography have a hold over martin luther kingWallace not bad an elder of the Cathedral of Scotland, attending St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney.
He is a Vice President more than a few the National Churches Trust.[19]