Menzies Campbell
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The Right Honourable Sir Walter Menzies Campbell, (known as Ming Campbell), CBE, QC (born 22 May 1941, Glasgow) is a Scottish advocate and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for North East Fife. He is the Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, following Charles Kennedy's resignation, until a new leader is elected. He has also announced his candidature in the ensuing leadership election. Prior to this, he was Deputy Leader of the party, making him the default to become acting leader.
"Menzies" is correctly pronounced mingis (IPA: /ˈmɪŋɪs/ or /ˈmɪŋgɪs/).
Early life
Menzies Campbell was educated at Hillhead High School, Glasgow, and the University of Glasgow, graduating MA and LLB. He was elected President of the Glasgow University Union and later received a scholarship to Stanford University, California. A successful sprinter at University, he competed for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and for the Scotland team at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. He held the British 100 metres record 1967-1974. Campbell's contemporaries at the University of Glasgow included the former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine, Secretary of State Donald Dewar and John Smith, who attempted to recruit him for the Labour Party. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1968.
Political career
He became chairman of the Scottish Liberals in 1975, and was a candidate at various general elections between 1974 and 1983, finally being elected as member for North East Fife in 1987. He was made the Liberal Democrat chief spokesman on foreign affairs and defence in 1992, and since the Liberal Democrats in 1997 decided to operate a Shadow Cabinet he has served as a Shadow Foreign Secretary. In 2002 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer, and underwent a course of intensive chemotherapy before going on to make a full recovery. Since October 2003 he has also been deputy leader.
Campbell has on occasion had to act as interim Leader of the party. On April 12 2005 he took over in the election campaign whilst Charles Kennedy took three days paternity leave, and since January 7 2006 he has been the interim Leader following Kennedy's resignation, and has announced that he will be a candidate in the leadership election.
Campbell was awarded a knighthood in 2004 for 'services to Parliament', having previously been appointed CBE in 1999. He is also a Privy Counsellor. He has honorary degrees from Glasgow and Strathclyde universities. Sir Menzies is a candidate for the Chancellorship of St Andrews University as of January 2006.
See also
External links
- Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Sir Menzies Campbell MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Menzies Campbell MP
- The Public Whip - Menzies Campbell MP voting record
- Open Directory Project - Menzies Campbell directory category
- BBC News - Menzies Campbell profile 10 February, 2005