Meeting of the Parliament 03 February 2026 [Draft]
Jim Wallace was one of the founders of devolution. Without him, our Parliament would be a weaker and less ambitious place.
I did not know Jim Wallace on a personal level as well as many others did but, the few times that I met him, he was warm, funny and quick to offer genuine advice to a very new MSP who had a lot to learn. I regret that I have not had the pleasure of working with him or serving in this Parliament with him.
In preparing my remarks, I spoke to colleagues who had worked with Jim. Their view, as has been the case so far across the chamber, was unanimous. They describe an unwaveringly decent and kind person who took Parliament seriously and took Scotland seriously. When he worked, it was with integrity. When he disagreed with colleagues, it was always in a spirit of respect.
Jim was only the second person who was not a Kirk minister to take on the role of Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland since the 16th century. Moderator is clearly a non-partisan, party-neutral role. Jim did what he had to do and resigned his membership of the Liberal Democrats for the year of his tenure—it was a commitment on his part that his public service was above party politics.
My co-leader Ross Greer was grateful to know a deeply thoughtful man with an unparalleled commitment to serving Scotland through both politics and the Kirk. His term coincided with Glasgow hosting the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—the COP26 climate summit. That resulted in Ross’s personal highlight of the conference: forming a temporary double act with Jim for a guest lecture at Trinity College Glasgow about faith and small-g green politics. That experience illustrated Jim’s commitment to public service, his love for his country and how his deeply held personal faith influenced his political life.
In this Parliament, we should remember the committed and dedicated voices who came before us and the wonderful legacies that they leave. We should be inspired by Jim Wallace’s work and should try to conduct ourselves in the manner in which he conducted himself. A long-serving Liberal Democrat MSP, Deputy First Minister, acting First Minister and Moderator of the General Assembly, his commitment to public service can never be in doubt. His sudden loss will be keenly felt by colleagues in the Parliament, and I extend our condolences in particular to our colleagues in the Liberal Democrats.
Most of all, I send my condolences to Jim’s friends and family. I sincerely hope that they take comfort in the universal affection and respect that have been expressed by MSPs across all parties.