Sir George Reid, 1939 – 2025

SNP Leader and First minster of Scotland, John Swinney MSP and SNP Depute Leader have today paid tribute to Sir George Reid former SNP MP, MSP and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament following his passing at the age of 86.

SNP Leader John Swinney MSP –

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.

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.

As a journalist, in the 1980’s, George was Michael Buerk’s producer for the historic coverage of the Ethiopian famine that inspired Band Aid.

As was typical of George, he could not simply observe and report. He always sought to make a difference, taking on a senior role in the Red Cross and Red Crescent in the 1980s and 1990s.

George was a founding Member of the Scottish Parliament.

More than that, after Holyrood’s difficult early years, he put aside Party and provided emphatic national leadership as the Presiding Officer, ending the controversies over the new building and cementing the institution’s place in modern political life.

And, throughout it all, his articulation of the case for Scotland deciding her own future, was as compelling to me when I sat with him in his home just four short weeks ago, as it was when I was a teenager.

In addition to helping to shape our politics, George made a distinguished contribution to public life in Scotland as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, as Lord Lieutenant of his beloved Clackmannanshire, and in countless other roles that he took forward.

Scotland, and the world, is richer for the life of George Reid and poorer for his passing.

My thoughts and deepest condolences are with Dee, his family, his many friends and all whose lives were enhanced by knowing George Reid.

SNP Depute Leader, Keith Brown MSP –

It is with deep sadness that the Scottish National Party has learnt of the passing of George Reid, a towering figure in Scottish public life and a dedicated servant of our country.

George’s contribution to Scotland was profound.

As a journalist, humanitarian, parliamentarian, and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, George display integrity, intelligence, and an incredible commitment to democracy.

His time as an SNP MP at Westminster in the 1970s marked the beginning of a political career where he went on to play a vital role in shaping our Scottish Parliament.

His leadership helped establish the Parliament’s authority and independence in its formative years, and his legacy continues to influence the way Holyrood operates today.

Beyond politics, George Reid devoted himself to humanitarian work with the International Red Cross, reflecting his deep sense of compassion and global citizenship.

He was a true statesman which could be seen in his absolute commitment to justice.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Scotland has lost a great public servant, and the SNP mourns the passing of one of our own with both sadness and gratitude.

George Reid’s life and legacy will endure in our Parliament, in our politics, and in the continuing journey toward the fairer, more just Scotland he worked tirelessly to build.