Former Liberal Democrat chief Sir Menzies Campbell has died on the age of 84.

Sir Menzies, or Ming as he was extensively recognized, led the Liberal Democrats from 2006 to 2007 and was the MP for North East Fife at Westminster for 28 years.

In his first profession as a sprinter, he held the UK 100m report from 1967 to 1974 and ran within the 1964 Tokyo Olympics – being dubbed The Flying Scotsman.

Lib Dem chief Ed Davey described Sir Menzies as “a devoted public servant and a real Liberal large”.

He mentioned: “His principled management opposing the Iraq Struggle was a mark of his morality, braveness and knowledge.

“However greater than that, he was an extremely heat and caring pal and colleague. We are going to miss him terribly.”

Sir Menzies died peacefully in London following a interval of respite care. His grandson was with him.

His household mentioned one in every of his last days was spent watching the Liberal Democrats Get together Convention, and having fun with watching video messages from political mates.

Sir Menzies first stood as a candidate in 1976, however didn’t win his constituency for 11 years.

He made his title because the get together’s overseas affairs spokesman, a place he held for 14 years and was a famend critic of the Iraq warfare.

He turned a member of the Home of Lords in 2015. His official title was Baron Campbell of Pittenweem.

First Minister John Swinney mentioned: “I’m deeply saddened to be taught of the passing of Lord Campbell – one of the distinguished and well-liked political figures of his era.

“I first received to know him nicely as a newly-elected MP the place he welcomed me and helped me adapt to life in Home of Commons. Over time since, we frequently labored collectively on the various points on which we agreed.”

He mentioned Sir Menzies was “a passionate believer in a greater Scotland” but in addition a robust internationalist – eager to construct consensus and discover widespread floor.

“These getting into public service right this moment may be taught a lot from his model – all the time forthright in talking up for what he believed in, however by no means something apart from respectful, courteous and well mannered to his political opponents,” Swinney mentioned.

“On behalf of the Scottish authorities I supply my condolences to Lord Campbell’s household. My ideas right this moment are with them, his Liberal Democrat colleagues and his many mates throughout the political spectrum and past.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat chief Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP mentioned Sir Menzies was one of many “most revered politicians of his era”.

He mentioned: “The primary political factor I ever did was to ship leaflets for Ming on the morning of his first election to Parliament in 1987.

“He was my MP, he was my mentor and he was my pal. From the Olympic monitor to the benches of Westminster, his contribution to public life will lengthy be remembered.”

Wendy Chamberlain, present MP for North East Fife, mentioned Sir Menzies “remained a major determine” within the space.

She added: “His contributions to our communities, to the College of St Andrews, in addition to to Scotland and the UK had been immeasurable.

“Though he discovered the passing of his beloved Elspeth tough, slightly than retreat, till the final weeks of his life, he was nonetheless travelling to London to contribute within the Home of Lords.”

Born Walter Menzies Campbell on 22 Could 1941, Sir Menzies was introduced up in a Glasgow tenement.

He was educated at Hillhead Excessive College and went on to the College of Glasgow, the place he was a recent of each John Smith and Donald Dewar finding out Regulation and debating within the union.

He additionally attended Stanford College in California in the course of the Vietnam Struggle and later turned an advocate.

Sir Menzies was referred to as to the Scottish bar in 1968 and made a QC (latterly KC) in 1982. The regulation gave him a profitable profession and he continued to practise all through his time in politics.

His spouse of greater than 50 years, Elspeth, died in June 2023 – he described her as his “fixed political companion, all the time my encouragement and eternally my first line of defence”.

The couple had been married in June 1970, simply three months after first assembly.

Throughout his athletics profession, Sir Menzies captained the British males’s group on the 1966 Commonwealth Video games in Jamaica.

A yr later he set a brand new British 100m report of 10.2 seconds – beating a younger OJ Simpson within the course of. The report stood till 1972.

At one level he was referred to as “the quickest white man on the planet”.

Menzies Campbell’s contribution to our politics was far better than his quick spell as get together chief suggests.

His was an especially nicely knowledgeable voice on defence and overseas affairs which was central to the general public debate throughout and after the Iraq warfare.

He and his late spouse Elspeth had been one of the best of political firm with an excessive amount of perception into the Westminster points and characters of the day.

In some ways Elspeth was extra bold for her husband than he was for himself. His interval as get together chief was not a cheerful one.

He was on the receiving finish of a persistent ageism – caricatured as a grandfatherly determine along with his greatest days behind him when put next with rival leaders like Tony Blair and David Cameron.

When showing on TV for interview he all the time insisted on sporting a tie as a result of he felt it was what his constituents would count on.

However I knew he’d given in to modernising advisers who wrongly thought they might reinvent his picture when one Sunday morning he appeared in our studio in an open-necked shirt. It was not lengthy earlier than he resigned.

It was his knowledge, expertise and courtesy that had been his biggest strengths and these had been undervalued qualities throughout his time on the high.