Dewar: Leader of the devolution

Dewar: Formidable debater, brilliant politician

LONDON, England -- Donald Dewar travelled a long and eventful road to become Scotland's First Minister.

Much of his 33-year political career was devoted to the cause of devolution and his pride in the Scotland Act, which gave Scotland its new parliament after being passed in 1998, was palpable.

He often echoed the words of his close friend, the late leader of the British Labour Party John Smith, in describing a devolved Parliament as the "settled will of the Scottish people."

In the closing stages of the campaign for the Scottish Parliament the then Secretary of State for Scotland emerged as a major asset to Labour, with the party stressing his experience and presenting him as a steady hand on the tiller.

He soared above the Scottish National Party's Alex Salmond as the voters choice of first minister.

The Glasgow University-educated lawyer was a formidable debater and regarded as one of the cleverest men in government, but his tendency towards a stiff, matter-of-fact tone earned him the nickname "Donald Dour."

But away from the cameras Dewar unleashed a keen sense of humour.

Born on August 21, 1937, the man known as The Gannet because of his prodigious appetite, first entered the UK Parliament in 1966 as MP for Aberdeen South, but was defeated in 1970.

He returned to the law before winning his current seat, now named Glasgow Anniesland, in 1978.

Dewar served the party as Shadow Scottish Secretary under former Labour leader Neil Kinnock for 11 years before John Smith handed him the Social Security portfolio.

After Smith's death, Tony Blair sprung a surprise, making Dewar Opposition Chief Whip.

As Secretary of State for Scotland he successfully led the referendum campaign in 1997 before shepherding the Scotland Bill through Westminster to deliver the Scottish Parliament.

However, controversial issues dogged his reign as first minister.

The first term of the new Scottish Parliament brought the Section 28 debate, strong criticism over the deal on student tuition fees, and problems over the cost of the new Parliament building.

However, it was the executive's pledge to repeal the Section 28 law on the promotion of homosexuality in schools which brought the first major test of Dewar's leadership since the advent of devolution.

After a hard fought campaign the executive won the day over Section 28 although only after concessions had been offered.

It was during the first term of the new Parliament that Dewar was admitted to hospital for the heart operation.

On his return to work in August he was thrust into the exams crisis after thousands of students received incomplete, late and inaccurate results.

Dewar faced repeated calls to sack his education minister Sam Galbraith, but he refused to heed them.

In the midst of the exams fiasco he was faced with the fuel crisis which saw pickets at Scotland's only oil refinery at Grangemouth, and petrol stations across Scotland running dry.

Another millstone for the First Minister was the new Parliament building at Holyrood, dubbed "Donald's Dome" with costs reported to have reached £230 million.

Away from politics, Dewar relaxed at home in the West End of Glasgow surrounded by his vast collection of books -- he is said to have a particular enthusiasm for Scottish history and rare first editions.

The father-of-two remained single after his wife Alison left him for the now Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, a university friend of Dewar, more than 20 years ago.

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Scottish Executive

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