With Jim Wallace's death, it feels like we have lost part of our conscience
Jim Wallace was motivated by doing the right thing, not for political gain or to win votes, but to be fair and just
I first met Jim Wallace in 1992 when I was a journalist with no political allegiance, and he had just become Scottish Liberal Democrat leader. I remember telling my husband and colleagues that he seemed like a decent bloke, and in some ways too ‘nice’ for politics.
That came back to me on Thursday when I learned of his death. Because in truth, that first impression was the one that stuck with me through the 30 years during which he influenced and shaped my personal and political direction, and the country’s.
It never felt like an overt, interfering influence. More like a favourite wise uncle whose opinion you would seek and whose approval you cherished. He was someone you felt was motivated by doing the right thing, not for political gain or to win votes, but to be fair and just.
From acting First Minister to Moderator
Perhaps that is why, as a colleague said to me, it feels like in losing him we have lost part of our conscience and our ability not just to do the right thing, but to recognise it. I can visualise him shaking his head at me for talking such nonsense about him.
That’s another thing I will remember. The modesty. This was a man who led his party, was Scotland’s first Deputy First Minister, stepped into the breach three times when we needed an acting First Minister, played an important role in government at both Scottish and UK levels and then was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
I was recently asked by Holyrood Magazine who I admired most in Scottish politics, and I chose Charles Kennedy and Jim Wallace. They were very different people who represented the same decent, fair liberalism to communities who felt that they cared for them.
I would not claim to have been close to Jim, certainly not as close as my colleagues from the Northern Isles or those who served with him in Holyrood.
Impossible to disagree with
But I was influenced to join the party by him, and privileged to witness his work when I was a special advisor in No 10 preparing for the independence referendum and he was Advocate General for Scotland.
I saw him in full flow, offering advice to a meeting of the coalition leadership. He was straightforward, reasonable and impossible to disagree with.
Then there was his kindness. Recently when I could have been personally disillusioned, Jim was one of those whose words of support and reassurance helped me keep focus.
Perhaps my favourite memory however is from the 2019 general election. Jim came door knocking with me in Edinburgh.
Two days later, he messaged to say that he’d been campaigning in Ed Davey’s seat when a woman whose door they knocked had said that she wasn’t a supporter even though her cousin was a Lib Dem MP. When she said my name, Jim whipped out the selfie of him and I from the day before and she was won over.
She, for her part, messaged to say that a lovely man had come to her door and persuaded her to vote Liberal Democrat. An experience she shared with much of Scotland.
My thoughts are with Rosie and the family. We will miss him.
Christine Jardine is the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West
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