The Lord Russell-Johnston | |
|---|---|
 Johnston (right) shares a joke withDavid Steel at the 1987 Liberal Party Assembly | |
| Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats | |
| In office 16 July 1988 – 13 April 1992 | |
| Leader | Paddy Ashdown |
| Preceded by | Alan Beith(as Deputy Leader of theLiberal Party) |
| Succeeded by | Alan Beith |
| Leader of theScottish Liberal Party | |
| In office 1974 – 16 July 1988 | |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Bruce(as Leader of theScottish Liberal Democrats) |
| Member of Parliament forInverness, Nairn and Lochaber Inverness (1964–1983) | |
| In office 15 October 1964 – 8 April 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Neil McLean |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Russell Johnston (1932-07-28)28 July 1932 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 27 July 2008(2008-07-27) (aged 75) Paris, France |
| Political party | Scottish Liberal Democrats(1988–2008) Scottish Liberal Party(before 1988) |
David Russell Russell-Johnston, Baron Russell-Johnston (bornDavid Russell Johnston; 28 July 1932 – 27 July 2008),[1] usually known asRussell Johnston, was a leadingScottish Liberal Democratpolitician and was the Leader of theScottish Liberal Party from 1974 to 1988.
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 atPortree High School on theIsle of Skye, and attended theUniversity of Edinburgh, graduating in 1957 with an MA in history.[3] After completingnational service in the intelligence corps (1958–9) he trained as a teacher atMoray House College of Education, going on to teach atLiberton High School.[2]
In 1961, he wonThe Observer Mace, speaking with David Harcus and representing the University of Edinburgh.[2]
He was elected to theHouse of Commons and representedInverness (1964–83) and its successor seatInverness, Nairn and Lochaber (1983-97) as aMember of Parliament (MP) for theLiberal Party (1964-88) and then theLiberal 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.[citation needed]
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 byBelfast South at the 2015 election. On retiring from the House of Commons in 1997, he was created alife peer asBaron Russell-Johnston of Minginish in Highlands,[6] changing his surname bydeed poll to allow his forename to be incorporated into his title.[5]
He was a member of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1985 to his death in 2008,[7] leadingthe 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 2003Alija Izetbegović described him as "a great friend of Bosnia."[8]
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 receivingchemotherapy. While undergoing treatment he continued to work onhuman rights issues for theCouncil 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]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forInverness 1964–1983 | Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forInverness, Nairn and Lochaber 1983–1997 | |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of theScottish Liberal Party 1970–1974 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by ? | Leader of theScottish Liberal Party 1974–1988 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Leader of theLiberal Democrats 1988–1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theScottish Liberal Democrats 1988–1994 | Succeeded by ? |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Leni Fischer | President of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 1999–2002 | Succeeded by Peter Schieder |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
