Menzies Campbell, the veteran Liberal Democrat MP who led the party for a year and a half, has passed away at the age of 84, his family announced.
Lord Campbell, widely known as Ming, died in London after a period of respite care, his grandson Gregor Grant-Suttie confirmed. He had spent some of his final days watching the recent Liberal Democrat conference.
Campbell represented North East Fife in Parliament for nearly 30 years and assumed leadership of the party in 2006 following Charles Kennedy’s abrupt resignation, who cited treatment for alcoholism.
His tenure as leader was occasionally turbulent, particularly when speculation arose about a leadership challenge amid rumors that Gordon Brown might call an election in 2007. Though the election never took place, Campbell later stepped down, stating, "Leadership debates are hindering the party's progress." Vince Cable briefly took over before Nick Clegg, whom Campbell had supported as home affairs spokesperson, was elected leader.
After losing his seat in the 2015 election, which saw a steep decline in Liberal Democrat MPs, Campbell was made a peer.
Educated at Glasgow and Stanford universities, he worked as a barrister before entering politics. He was also an exceptional sprinter, representing Britain at the 1964 Olympics and holding the UK 100m record of 10.2 seconds, set in 1967 and unbroken until 1974.
In Tokyo, the 23-year-old Campbell competed in the 200m, reaching the quarter-finals, and the 4x100m relay, where his team advanced to the final.
At Stanford, he raced against—and defeated—OJ Simpson, who later pursued American football. On one occasion, Campbell placed second behind Tommie Smith, the 1968 Olympic 200m champion known for his iconic podium protest.
Reflecting on his athletic career in a Scottish newspaper interview, Campbell said: "I’d had a strong indoor season, racing in San Francisco and Toronto. My first outdoor run at the Mount San Antonio relay was wind-assisted at 10.2 seconds, ahead of OJ Simpson, who hadn’t yet switched sports. Indoors in Sacramento, Tommie Smith won, I came second, and OJ was third."
Current Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey praised Campbell as "a devoted public servant, a relentless advocate for Fife, St Andrews, and the UK, and a towering figure in Liberal politics."
Davey added: "As foreign affairs spokesperson during the seismic shifts of 9/11, his principled stand against the Iraq war demonstrated his integrity, bravery, and foresight. He stood firm for what was right, no matter the difficulty.
"Like many, I deeply valued Ming’s wisdom and support over our years of collaboration. Beyond that, he was a kind, thoughtful friend and colleague, full of generosity and wit. Ming was wonderful company."
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