Russell Johnston

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Other people". Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". David Russell Russell-Johnston, Baron Russell-Johnston (born David Russell Johnston; 28 July 1932 – 27 July 2008),[1] usually known as Russell Johnston, was a leading Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and was the Leader of the Scottish Liberal Party from 1974 to 1988.

Early life

David Russell Johnston was born on 28 July 1932 at 39 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh to Georgina Margaret Gerrie (née Russell) and David Knox Johnston, a customs and excise officer.[2][3] He was educated at Portree High School on the Isle of Skye, and attended the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1957 with an MA in history.[3] After completing national service in the intelligence corps (1958–9) he trained as a teacher at Moray House College of Education, going on to teach at Liberton High School.[2]

In 1961, he won The Observer Mace, speaking with David Harcus and representing the University of Edinburgh.[2]

Political career

He was elected to the House of Commons and represented Inverness (1964–83) and its successor seat Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (1983-97) as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party (1964-88) and then the Liberal Democrats (1988–97). He also served as leader of the Scottish Liberal Party (1974-88) and as deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats (1988–92).[4] In October 1966, he proposed a bill of federal law in order to deal with the Scotland and Wales case.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Johnston was knighted in 1985.[5]

In the 1992 election, he made history by holding his seat with just 26% of the vote in a close four-way battle with Labour, the SNP, and the Conservatives. At the time, this was the lowest ever winning percentage for a candidate, until being superseded by Belfast South at the 2015 election. On retiring from the House of Commons in 1997, he was created a life peer as Baron Russell-Johnston of Minginish in Highlands,[6] changing his surname by deed poll to allow his forename to be incorporated into his title.[5]

He was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1985 to his death in 2008,[7] leading the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE-PACE) from 1994 to 1999, and serving as the assembly's president from 1999 until 2002. In 2003 Alija Izetbegović described him as "a great friend of Bosnia."[8]

Personal life

In 1967 Johnston married Joan Graham Menzies, a bank clerk, and together they had three sons.[3]

Lord Russell-Johnston collapsed and died in a Paris street on 27 July 2008, the day before his 76th birthday.[9] He had been diagnosed with cancer, for which he was receiving chemotherapy. While undergoing treatment he continued to work on human rights issues for the Council of Europe. At the time of his death he and his wife had been estranged for over ten years, although they remained close friends.[9]

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "template wrapper". Template:Link note
  3. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ ALDE-PACE Group; accessed 12 February 2016.
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  7. ↑ Profile, Council of Europe website; accessed 12 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Inescapable Questions (2003), page.424.
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament for Inverness
1964–1983 Template:S-ttl/check 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber
1983–1997 Template:S-ttl/check 		Constituency abolished
Party political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Chairman of the Scottish Liberal Party
1970–1974 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Leader of the Scottish Liberal Party
1974–1988 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
1988–1992 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check President of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
1988–1994 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
1999–2002 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Scottish Liberal Democrats Template:UK Liberal Democrats Template:Authority control

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