Lord Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader and Olympic sprinter who became one of Britain’s most respected political figures, died peacefully yesterday at the age of 84 in London following a period of respite care.
The death of Lord Campbell, known affectionately as “Ming”, was confirmed by his family on Friday morning at the Kyn Hurlingham facility where he had been receiving care before planning to return to Scotland. His grandson, Gregor Grant-Suttie, revealed that one of his grandfather’s final days was spent watching the Liberal Democrats Party Conference and enjoying video messages from political friends.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey paid tribute to Lord Campbell as “a dedicated public servant, a tireless champion for Fife, St Andrews and the UK, and a true Liberal giant” who had served Parliament across five decades. “He spoke up for what was right, even when it was hard,” Sir Ed declared, highlighting Campbell’s principled opposition to the Iraq War as “a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.”
From Athletic Track to Westminster
Before entering politics, Walter Menzies Campbell had already made his mark as one of Britain’s fastest sprinters. He competed in the 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, captained the Great Britain athletics team from 1965-66, and held the British 100 metres record from 1967 to 1974 with a time of 10.2 seconds. At one point, he was known as “the fastest white man on the planet”, having beaten future American football star O.J. Simpson in one of his record-breaking races.
Born in Glasgow on 22 May 1941, Campbell was educated at Hillhead High School before winning a place at the University of Glasgow, where he was a contemporary of future Labour leaders John Smith and Donald Dewar, as well as future Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine. He graduated with a Scottish Master of Arts in 1962 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1965, later pursuing international law at Stanford University.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP described Campbell as “one of the most respected politicians of his generation”, adding poignantly: “The first political thing I ever did was to deliver leaflets for Ming on the morning of his first election to Parliament in 1987. He was my MP, he was my mentor and he was my friend.”
Parliamentary Pioneer and Iraq War Critic
Campbell’s parliamentary career began in 1987 when he was elected MP for North East Fife, a seat he would hold for nearly three decades until 2015. He quickly established himself as an authoritative voice on foreign affairs and defence, serving as the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson for 14 years.
His most prominent stance came in 2003 when he became a leading critic of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s decision to support the US-led invasion of Iraq. Campbell argued forcefully that the case for war was unproven and possibly unlawful, demanding the government publish the Attorney General’s secret legal advice on the conflict. Years later, he would describe his opposition to the Iraq War as one of the proudest moments of his career.
“The second Gulf war, that’s the most significant political thing I’ve been engaged with,” he later reflected. “We took the decision – not an easy decision – that we were going to thoroughly oppose it, and there were some sleepless nights for me and for Charles Kennedy.”
Brief but Turbulent Leadership
Campbell’s rise to party leadership came in January 2006 when Charles Kennedy resigned after admitting he was an alcoholic. Following a seven-week campaign, Campbell defeated Chris Huhne and Simon Hughes to become Liberal Democrat leader on 2 March 2006, securing 29,697 votes to Huhne’s 21,628 on a 72% membership turnout.
His leadership, however, proved challenging from the start. Early performances at Prime Minister’s Questions were criticised as hesitant and ineffective, leading to questions about his suitability for the role. The media focused relentlessly on his age – he was 65 when he became leader – prompting charity Age Concern to condemn what it called “barely disguised ageism” in coverage.
A particularly intriguing episode occurred in June 2007 when incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown surprisingly offered Campbell the chance to bring two Liberal Democrats – Lord Ashdown and Lady Neuberger – into his cabinet. After 24 hours of consultation, Campbell rejected the offer as unworkable, citing the gulf between the parties on foreign policy and civil liberties. Labour subsequently leaked news of the meeting and went behind Campbell’s back to offer Ashdown the position of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which he declined.
Resignation and Later Years
On 15 October 2007, after just 19 months in charge, Campbell resigned as party leader, becoming the first elected Liberal Democrat leader never to lead the party into a general election. In his resignation letter, he stated that “questions about leadership are getting in the way of further progress by the party.”
His successor Nick Clegg later alleged that Campbell had been treated “appallingly” and subjected to ageism throughout his tenure. Campbell himself maintained dignity about the experience, though the brevity of his leadership clearly disappointed many supporters who recognised his intellectual calibre and international stature.
Following his resignation, Campbell continued as MP for North East Fife until 2015, when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Campbell of Pittenweem. He also served as Chancellor of the University of St Andrews from 2006 until his death.
Personal Battles and Triumphs
Campbell faced significant health challenges during his career, being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2002. Despite the diagnosis, he maintained an active political schedule and eventually recovered, demonstrating the fighting spirit that had characterised his athletic and political careers.
He was married to Elspeth Urquhart, daughter of Major General Roy Urquhart, for more than 50 years until her death in 2023. Campbell described her as “my constant political companion, always my encouragement and forever my first line of defence.” Friends noted that he found her passing difficult but continued travelling to London to contribute in the House of Lords until his final weeks.
Tributes Pour In
Jeremy Purvis, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, said: “Ming was a fighter and a campaigner all of his life – whether that was on the sports track, in the court room, the House of Commons or the House of Lords.”
Grant-Suttie, Campbell’s grandson, offered a moving personal tribute: “Ming achieved a lot through his life, across sport, law and politics. But the myriad of accolades and awards he collected in his professional life paled in comparison to his achievements as a husband, father figure, grandfather, and friend.”
Campbell was appointed CBE in 1987, knighted in 2004, and made a Companion of Honour in 2013 – one of only 65 people to hold the prestigious award at any time.
Legacy of Principle
Lord Campbell leaves behind a legacy as a politician who consistently placed principle above popularity. His opposition to the Iraq War, though vindicated by history, came at considerable political cost. His advocacy for civil liberties, international cooperation, and Scottish interests within the United Kingdom marked him as a distinctive voice in British politics.
Sir Ed Davey captured the sentiment of many when he said: “All of us in the Liberal Democrat family and beyond will miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with all who loved him.”
Lord Campbell’s death marks the end of an era in Scottish and British politics – a link to a time when political discourse was perhaps more civil, when expertise was valued, and when public service meant sacrifice rather than self-promotion.
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Image Credit:
Menzies “Ming” Campbell at Brighton 2018 — photo by Keith Edkins, CC BY-SA 4.0
