TIMES PAST Donald Dewar
HISTORY PEOPLE FIVE FACTS ABOUT
1Donald Dewar, who was born in 1937 and died in 2000, was Scotland’s first First Minister and is generally recognised as the architect of devolution. Born and educated in Glasgow, at Mosspark Primary, Glasgow Academy and then Glasgow University, he made an outstanding contribution to Scottish political and cultural life.
2
In 1978 he won the Garscadden constituency in Glasgow and he went on to hold a raft of titles, including Shadow Secretary of
4
State for Scotland in 1983, Shadow Secretary of State for Social Donald subsequently Security in 1992, and the Labour became the Member of Party’s Chief Whip in 1996. When the Scottish Parliament Labour won the General Election ( MSP) for Glasgow in 1997, Donald became Secretary Anniesland on 6 May 1999. The of State for Scotland. new Scottish Parliament elected
3
Donald Dewar to the post of First An outspoken advocate Minister in 1999 and he became of political devolution for known as the ‘ Father of the Scotland within the United Nation’.
5
Kingdom, he was one of the leading lights in the Scottish Sadly, he died aged just Constitutional Convention, and 63 in October 2000, while as Secretary of State, he led the he was still in office, campaign for a “yes” vote in the prompting an outpouring devolution referendum. Donald of grief almost unheard of was largely responsible for writing for a politician. His statue, and then ensuring the passage a nine- foot high bronze tribute, of the Scotland Bill through the stands at the foot of the Royal House of Commons. The Scotland Concert Hall steps on Buchanan Act was passed in 1998. Street.