Willie Rennie and Iain Smith praise Sir Menzies Campbell

By The Voice | Wed 9th October 2013 - 6:55 pm

We told you earlier that Sir Menzies Campbell had announced that he’s retiring as MP for North East Fife in 2015. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and fellow Fife Parliamentarian Willie Rennie had this to say:

Menzies Campbell’s wise and intelligent counsel has guided our nation through some of its most testing dilemmas. From Yugoslavia to Iraq to Syria he has been insightful and calm but never feared standing out from the crowd.

For over thirty five years Ming has dedicated himself to his constituency of North East Fife and in return local people have put their trust in him. He converted a healthy Conservative majority into a healthy Liberal Democrat one.

Ming Campbell excelled in life – from Olympic sprinter to Advocate to political statesman. To have excelled at one would be remarkable but to have excelled at all three is truly astonishing.

For 12 years, Iain Smith was MSP for North East Fife. He said:

I have had the enormous privilege of working with Sir Menzies Campbell for 37 years, as a campaigner, his election agent, constituency organiser and as my constituency colleague when I was in the Scottish Parliament.

His commitment and service to North East Fife and to the Liberal Democrats has been immense, as can be seen from the very high regard with which he is held by his constituents.

I am sure he will continue to serve North East Fife to his exemplary standard until 2016, and I wish him and Elspeth the very best for a long and happy retirement.

4 Comments

nuclear cockroach 9th Oct '13 - 9:53pm

I fear for our party losing so much wisdom. It’s like mourning for a greatly respected elder relative, only it’s several of them going.
Caron Lindsay 10th Oct '13 - 8:05am

Over a hundred years worth between Campbell, Stunell, Beith and Bruce alone.
Roger Roberts 10th Oct '13 - 9:14am

The best Foreign Secretary we never had.
Caracatus 10th Oct '13 - 11:29am

Such a shame he was not given a post in Government 🙁
British politics has few people of such talent and it is a tragic waste for the whole country that his political prime was spent in opposition. Even if he showed that out of office one can influence events, he could have achived so much more if given the opportunity.