Former Scottish parliament presiding officer Sir George Reid dies aged 86

Former Scottish parliament presiding officer Sir George Reid has died at the age of 86, his family have announced.

Sir George died in the early hours of Tuesday at Strathcarron Hospice near Denny, just a few miles from where he was born in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire.

First Minister John Swinney paid tribute, saying: “I am desperately saddened by the loss of the remarkable George Reid.

“His passion for Scotland, his principled internationalist world view, and his empathy for the plight of people everywhere made him a voice that could not be ignored across five decades.”

Sir George began his career as a journalist and was first elected as an SNP MP for Clackmannan and Eastern Stirlingshire in 1974, serving in the House of Commons before narrowly losing at the 1979 election.

He then returned to journalism, becoming the producer who brought the world pictures of the Ethiopian famine in 1984 alongside presenter Michael Buerk, which sparked the Band Aid and Live Aid concerts.

Later, he later took on a role with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent.

It was not until the opening of the Scottish parliament in 1999 that he returned to the political frontline as an MSP for the Mid Scotland and Fife region, and he then won the Ochil seat in 2003.

He became the second presiding officer following the 2003 poll – after losing his bid to be the first in 1999 to Sir David Steel.

Sir George oversaw the final stages of the then controversial new Holyrood building at the foot of the Royal Mile and the move from the parliament’s initial home on the Mound.

Mr Swinney added: “As an MP, he was a trailblazing member of the SNP’s breakthrough victories of 1974. He became, for me, one of the compelling voices of the campaign for a Scottish parliament in 1979.

“His was one of the voices that brought me into politics and kindled my belief in independence that has driven my adult life. I feel so privileged to have been shaped by his influence and inspiration.”

In late June, he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer – having previously had successful surgery for bladder cancer more than a decade ago.

His family said he was working until his final few weeks at Stirling University, where he was a professional teaching fellow and was well enough to drive home through the Clackmannanshire area where he was born and represented in two different legislatures.

He is survived by Daphne, his wife of 57 years, daughter Morag and her husband, and five grandchildren.

Flags at the Scottish parliament have been lowered as a mark of respect, current Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone announced.

She said: “On behalf of all at the Scottish parliament, I express our deepest sadness at the death of our second presiding officer, the Rt Hon Sir George Reid.

“He’ll be remembered not only for bringing the Holyrood construction project to completion, but for building confidence and ambition in our young parliament.

“A proud son of Clackmannanshire and an internationalist by outlook, he was determined to put Holyrood on the map at home and abroad, and very much succeeded.

“By the time he left office, Holyrood was established at the centre of public life in Scotland and over a million people had visited to see for themselves the new parliament in action.

“The story of devolution and the early years of our parliament will remember George fondly and with gratitude.”