Neil MacCormick 1941-2009
First Minister Alex Salmond this morning led tributes to the former MEP and leading constitutional lawyer Professor Sir Neil MacCormick.
Neil MacCormick died yesterday in Edinburgh. He had been battling cancer for the past year.
The Scottish National Party leader, First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"I am deeply saddened to learn of Neil's passing. He was a man of immense warmth, intellect and breadth of knowledge, and Scotland's public life is greatly the poorer for his passing.
"Neil sprang from one of Scotland's leading political families, and was passionately committed to his party and the cause of Scottish independence. Yet his approach was always inclusive, and he strongly believed in advancing Scotland's case by building alliances, and indeed friendships, beyond those of party.
"Neil was a hugely distinguished academic, an outstanding ambassador for Scotland as a Euro-MP, but above all a fine human being. His latter role was as a Scottish Government Special Adviser, where he made an excellent and important contribution even during his period of illness. That was the mark of the man.
"My thoughts are with Flora and all of the family."
Neil MacCormick is survived by his wife Flora; three daughters and three step children.
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Neil MacCormick 1941-2009
Professor Sir Neil MacCormick was both a distinguished political figure as well as a leading constitutional and European expert.
Neil MacCormick was elected as an SNP Member of the European Parliament in 1999 serving until 2004. Whilst working as an MEP he represented the SNP on the Convention on the Future of Europe and was voted Scottish Euro MP of the Year on three occasions, in 2000, 2002 and 2003 – the only Scottish politician to have won the same award on three times.
In the European Parliament Neil MacCormick served as a Member of EP Committees on Legal Affairs and Single Market; Constitutional Affairs Committee; Vice-President of the Temporary Committee (2000-01) on the Echelon Interception System. He devoted much of his time as MEP to supporting Scotland’s island communities in the battle over the future of Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries.
He was Vice-President of the Scottish National Party from 1999 until 2004 and recently marked the 80th anniversary of the National Party of Scotland, founded by his father John MacCormick, in November 2008.
Retiring from Europe to return to academic work in 2004 Neil MacCormick was appointed as Special Adviser to First Minister Alex Salmond after the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, offering advice on European and constitutional matters.
Knighted in 2002 for his academic achievements Neil MacCormick was a distinguished academic lawyer and graduate of Glasgow, Oxford and Edinburgh Universities, he was Professor Emeritus of Public Law and the Law and Nature of Nations in Edinburgh University, having been Regius Professor of Public Law at Edinburgh University since 1972 (leave of absence, 1999-2004); Neil received honorary Doctor of Laws from universities in several countries (Uppsala, Sweden; the Saarland, Germany; Macerata, Italy; Queen’s, Kingston, Ontario; Glasgow, Queen Margaret and Edinburgh Universities in Scotland); foreign member of the Finnish Academy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the British Academy, Member of the Academia Europaea, and honorary QC. Author of many books and articles in legal and political theory, most recently Practical Reason in Law and Morality (2009).
As a student at Glasgow University he debated with John Smith, Donald Dewar and Menzies Campbell. A dedicated piper, the family of John Smith invited him to play Laoidh Chaluim Chille (St Columba’s Hymn) at the private interment of the Labour leader in Iona.
