Scottish Liberal Democrats mourn John Morrison

This is one of those blog posts you never, ever want to write. Reporting the news of the death of a colleague is horrible. This is the post I published on Liberal Democrat Voice yesterday. The only thing to add is that BBC News now report that a 25 year old man has been arrested in connection with an assault on John.

Scottish Liberal Democrats were shocked to learn of the sudden death of former East Dunbartonshire Council Leader John Morrison at the age of just 50. The Sunday Herald reports that John was found unconscious as the result of an assault in a Glasgow Street early on Saturday morning and died later in hospital.

John was affectionately known as Hobbit throughout the Scottish party. He had acquired that nickname while at Glasgow University and bore it with his customary good humour. He'd been a leading light in the university debating society as well as Young Social Democrats. He went on to lead East Dunbartonshire Council from 2003-2007. As a senior Councillor, he also represented the party on the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. In recent years ASLDC had benefitted from his wisdom and experience as he'd served as Vice-Convener. Outside politics, he headed the Legal Department of Glasgow City Council. He leaves his partner, David and daughter, Kirsty.

While he was Council Leader, Jo Swinson was elected as MP for the area. She paid this tribute to him:

This is shocking news and my heart goes out to John's partner, family and friends. John was a skilful debater and effective leader of East Dunbartonshire Council. He dedicated decades of his life to public service, both in elected politics and at Glasgow City Council. This is a tragic loss.

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip and Scottish Deputy Leader Alistair Carmichael's close friendship of John's dated from their university days. He said:

John Morrison's sudden and tragic death has shocked all those who knew him. For me he was not just a political colleague but a close friend whom I had first met when we were both students at Glasgow University. My sadness today is lifted only by many happy memories I shall always have of the fun times we shared.  I am sure that this will be true of John's many friends today. My thoughts are with his partner David, his daughter Kirsty and the rest of his family.

I didn't know John terribly well, but whenever I did come across him, he always had something interesting and challenging to say and he always made me laugh. I most recently saw him in the Summer when he and I put the world and the party to rights  on a short train journey.

He will be very sorely missed by many people in East Dunbartonshire and across Scotland.The thoughts of all at Liberal Democrat Voice are with his partner, family and friends. Please feel free to share memories of John in the comments thread.

UPDATE: Charles Kennedy, another Glasgow University Liberal Democrat alumnus, has also paid tribute to John, saying:

This shockingly sad news sees the sudden passing of a great character and a memorable personality within the party.

I first became friends with John at Glasgow University and was pleased when he succeeded me there as chairman of the Social Democrats in university union debating.

He went on to make his mark both in the law and local government. It was a great pity that he was never able to deploy his talents at Holyrood.

Our thoughts go out to his family at this time of such acute distress.

Sign up for Charles Kennedy's email newsletter

Lib Dem MP Charles Kennedy has started doing a regular email newsletter. It is focused on his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency. As that's a part of the country I love, I signed up to receive it fairly immediately. It does also have more national and international stuff in it from time to time.

It's well worth reading, so if you want to hear regularly from one of the party's most loved figures, you can sign up here. They are sending another one out today, so if you do so soon, you will get it.

Charles Kennedy backs Ewan Hoyle for Hillhead

That is all.

Charles Kennedy in historic re-election as Glasgow University Rector

Just dropping in quickly to let you know (courtesy of student James Harrison on Twitter) that our Charles Kennedy has become the first person since Benjamin Disraeli in the 1870s to be re-elected as rector of Glasgow University.

He won the contest with writer and comedian A L Kennedy by 2601 votes to 565.

I don't know if there's an equivalent position in English universities, but the Rector is there to represent the students on the University Court.  As leader, he championed the cause of free university tuition in 2 elections and famously rebelled on the night of that vote. As a former President of the Glasgow University Union he has a longstanding commitment to the university.

A good and well deserved result for Charles, and for the University. It's good to know that he'll have some voice in shaping higher education policy up here.

My Political Firsts

Here's my late contribution to the Friday meme from Liberal Democrat Voice. I think it makes me look just a little rebellious and not quite as if I am completely under the control of Dr Pack and Mr Tall and Ms Mortimer et al if I steadfastly refuse to do it on a Friday....

First political memory:

I guess I was kind of aware of Richard Nixon resigning as US President in 1974 - I seem to remember that there was tv on at breakfast time, which was downright revolutionary then.

I have to say, though, for British politics, it was watching General Hospital (the British one, with Mr Parker Brown and Dr Armstrong and Student Nurse Stevens - anyone remember it?) with my Granny and Grandad in their tiny flat in 1976 and seeing it flash up on the screen that James Callaghan was the new Prime Minister.

First time you voted:

1987 General Election, for Bob Maclennan in Caithness and Sutherland.

First party election broadcast you remember watching:

The one that comes to mind for this one, because it absolutely turned my stomach, (no, not Rosie Barnes and the rabbits) was a National Front one - I think it might have been the first one that they ever got. I remember watching it in Wick, so it must have been for either the 1983 election or 1984 Euros and I remember thinking to myself how awful it would be if people like that ever got anywhere near power.

First political poster/advert you remember:

Labour isn't working - the 1979 Tory one. 'Nuff said. They won. We suffered. The end.

First party conference attended:

1986 - Paisley, Scottish SDP where I spoke in the drugs debate and took part in the comedy entertainment in the evening. I think YSD did some sort of sketch that involved poking fun at Charles Kennedy. I went later that year to Harrogate and met Shirley Williams for the first time.

First politician you met:

Bob Maclennan, obviously, but you'd get bored if I wrote about him all the time. The first time I was completely and utterly starstruck by a politician was when Charles Kennedy and Russell Johnston came up with Alan Beith to Caithness during the 1984 General Election campaign. It was quite an inspiration that somebody just 8 years older than me could have been an MP for a year. I was so bowled over that I could barely breathe. I was wheeled out as the token young person to do the vote of thanks at the end of the meeting and got invited for High Tea at Mackay's Hotel in Wick.

If I was startstruck by Charles, I was completely enchanted by Russell, who was very funny and charming and absolutely passionate about Europe.

It also marked the day when I realised that politicians were not all perfect. Now, remember, I was quite a sheltered highland teenager. Not only did Charles smoke that day, but I was actually really shocked to hear him say "Shit" when he dropped some money when making a phone call (no mobile phones then......). So, there you have it, the scoop of the day, Charles Kennedy taught me to swear!

First canvassing experience:

With Helen MacLennan, somewhere near Thurso, in the 1983 election. She was a complete natural at it - so good with people on the doorsteps. It must have been quite a scary time for her. With the idealism of youth, I just didn't see how someone as good as Bob could lose, but he was one of the few MPs who had joined the SDP who did survive. The other thing I remember about that day is that we had these calling cards, "out" leaflets, if you like, and if somebody was out, Helen wrote them a note. I learned then how important these personal touches are.

The first time I remember flying solo on the doorsteps was in 1987 in Kincardine and Deeside when Nicol Stephen was the candidate. I was sent to squeeze the Labour vote out of an estate in Torry, I think it was.

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