Former presiding officer Sir George Reid dies aged 86

The former presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, Sir George Reid, has died aged 86.

Reid died at Strathcarron Hospice near Denny, not far from where he was born in Clackmannanshire.   

He chaired parliamentary debates between 2003 and 2007, having already had a long career as a journalist and an SNP politician.   

Reid was first elected to Westminster in 1974 as the SNP MSP for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire. He held the seat until 1979.   

He then returned to journalism and later took on a role with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent.  

Following the devolution settlement, Reid returned to frontline politics as an SNP MSP for the Mid Scotland and Fife region, later winning the Ochil seat in 2003.   

In 1999, he stood to be presiding officer but was defeated by Sir David Steel.  

During his period as presiding officer, he oversaw the final stages of the construction of the Scottish Parliament.   

In 2012, he was knighted for his services to Scottish politics and public life.   

As a journalist, he held broadcast roles at STV, the BBC, and Granada, as well as working for several newspapers.   

In 2018, Reid was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Public Service Awards, in recognition of his contribution to public life.

Presiding officer Alison Johnstone said: “On behalf of all at the Scottish Parliament, I express our deepest sadness at the death of our second Presiding Officer, The Rt Hon Sir George Reid. He’ll be remembered not only for bringing the Holyrood construction project to completion, but for building confidence and ambition in our young Parliament. 

“A proud son of Clackmannanshire and an internationalist by outlook, he was determined to put Holyrood on the map at home and abroad, and very much succeeded.  By the time he left office, Holyrood was established at the centre of public life in Scotland and over a million people had visited to see for themselves the new parliament in action. 

“The story of devolution and the early years of our parliament will remember George fondly and with gratitude. My deepest condolences to Daphne, his daughter and grandchildren and his many friends and colleagues. Sir George was welcoming and supportive to me, in Holyrood and outwith. He will be very much missed. 

“Flags at Holyrood have been lowered as a mark of respect.”