Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg, PC,KC (born 23 June 1940), known as Derry Irvine, is a Scottish lawyer, judge and politician who served as Lord Chancellor from 1997 to 2003.
During Irvine's tenure as Lord Chancellor, he oversaw the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. In 2001, Irvine gained further responsibility for constitutional issues including human rights and freedom of information. He notably chose not to wear the officeholder's traditional attire during most of his tenure in the role.[3][4] Irvine was the last Lord Chancellor to give judgments at the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, giving a brief concurring judgment in AIB Group (UK) Ltd v Martin [2001] UKHL 63. He also gave the last reasoned judgment to be given by a Lord Chancellor, in Uratemp Ventures Ltd v Collins [2001] UKHL 43.
Blair dismissed Irvine from the Cabinet in June 2003, when he announced his intention to abolish the position of Lord Chancellor. However, the role was not abolished, but was used as a secondary title for the Justice Secretary from 2005.
Controversiesedit
Irvine was criticised for spending £650,000 of public money to redecorate the Lord Chancellor's residence in 1998.[5] The cost included £59,000 in hand-printed wallpaper, and contractors had to sign the Official Secrets Act to prevent expenditure leaks.[5] Although renovation responsibility was with the Lords authorities, Irvine defended the cost by stating that the materials would last longer than cheaper products.[6]
He was awarded a pay rise of £22,691 in 2003, as a result of a formula designed to keep his salary ahead that of the Lord Chief Justice. However, he accepted a lower increase following public backlash to the decision.
Personal lifeedit
Irvine was married to Alison McNair, with whom he had a son, Alistair, and later divorced.[7] He began his relationship with McNair during her marriage to Donald Dewar. Alistair was sentenced to 16 months in jail in the US, after pleading guilty to stalking and vandalism in 2002.[8][9]
Armsedit
Coat of arms of Derry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg
Crest
A man in the attire of the Lord Chancellor's purse bearer and carrying the Lord Chancellor's purse Proper.
Escutcheon
Argent three holly leaves Proper on a chief Azure two bears' heads couped of the first muzzled Gules.
Supporters
Dexter a salmon Proper having in its mouth a signet ring Or sinister a lion per fess Or and Sable.
^"Peers tense over tights". BBC News. 13 October 1998.
^"Lord Irvine angry over wigs". BBC News. 10 November 1998.
^ abSylvester, Rachel; Winnett, Robert (29 March 2008). . The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
^"BBC News | UK | Irvine's attempt to paper over cracks". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
^"BBC News | UK Politics | Lord Irvine's guilt over Dewar's wife". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
^"Irvine son held on stalking charges". 12 April 2012.
^"Irvine's son jailed for 16 months in US". TheGuardian.com. 25 October 2002.
derry, irvine, baron, irvine, lairg, alexander, andrew, mackay, irvine, baron, irvine, lairg, born, june, 1940, known, derry, irvine, scottish, lawyer, judge, politician, served, lord, chancellor, from, 1997, 2003, right, honourablethe, lord, irvine, lairgpc, . Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine Baron Irvine of Lairg PC KC born 23 June 1940 known as Derry Irvine is a Scottish lawyer judge and politician who served as Lord Chancellor from 1997 to 2003 The Right HonourableThe Lord Irvine of LairgPC KCLord ChancellorIn office 2 May 1997 12 June 2003Prime MinisterTony BlairPreceded byThe Lord Mackay of ClashfernSucceeded byThe Lord Falconer of ThorotonShadow portfolios1992 1997Shadow Lord ChancellorMember of the House of LordsLord TemporalIncumbentAssumed office 25 March 1987Life peeragePersonal detailsBornAlexander Andrew Mackay Irvine 1940 06 23 23 June 1940 age 83 Inverness Scotland UKPolitical partyLabourAlma materUniversity of GlasgowChrist s College Cambridge He founded and headed 11 King s Bench Walk Chambers in the 1980s and later became a Recorder and Deputy High Court Judge A member of the Labour Party Irvine was appointed to the House of Lords in 1987 and served as Shadow Lord Chancellor from 1992 to 1997 He was appointed to the position in Cabinet by Prime Minister Tony Blair his former pupil after the 1997 election and served until his dismissal in 2003 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Legal career 3 Political career 3 1 Controversies 4 Personal life 4 1 Arms 5 ReferencesEarly life and education editAlexander Andrew Mackay Irvine was born on 23 June 1940 in Inverness Scotland to a roofer and a waitress He was educated at the independent Hutchesons Boys Grammar School in Glasgow Irvine studied Scots law at the University of Glasgow where he became involved in debating through the Glasgow University Dialectic Society and Glasgow University Union He befriended Donald Dewar and John Smith through his involvement in the societies Irvine subsequently studied English law at Christ s College Cambridge Legal career editAfter teaching law at the London School of Economics Irvine was called to the Bar in 1967 and joined chambers headed by Morris Finer He was appointed a Queen s Counsel in 1978 and founded 11 King s Bench Walk Chambers in 1981 becoming head of chambers Irvine s pupil barristers included Tony Blair and Cherie Booth In the 1980s he became a Recorder and later a Deputy High Court Judge Political career editAt the 1970 general election Irvine unsuccessfully contested Hendon North as the Labour Party candidate 1 A legal adviser to the Party through the 1980s he was awarded a life peerage as Baron Irvine of Lairg of Lairg in the District of Sutherland on 25 March 1987 2 Irvine served as Shadow Lord Chancellor from 1992 to 1997 under Labour leaders John Smith Margaret Beckett and Tony Blair After Labour s election victory in 1997 Blair appointed him as Lord Chancellor During Irvine s tenure as Lord Chancellor he oversaw the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law In 2001 Irvine gained further responsibility for constitutional issues including human rights and freedom of information He notably chose not to wear the officeholder s traditional attire during most of his tenure in the role 3 4 Irvine was the last Lord Chancellor to give judgments at the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords giving a brief concurring judgment in AIB Group UK Ltd v Martin 2001 UKHL 63 He also gave the last reasoned judgment to be given by a Lord Chancellor in Uratemp Ventures Ltd v Collins 2001 UKHL 43 Blair dismissed Irvine from the Cabinet in June 2003 when he announced his intention to abolish the position of Lord Chancellor However the role was not abolished but was used as a secondary title for the Justice Secretary from 2005 Controversies edit Irvine was criticised for spending 650 000 of public money to redecorate the Lord Chancellor s residence in 1998 5 The cost included 59 000 in hand printed wallpaper and contractors had to sign the Official Secrets Act to prevent expenditure leaks 5 Although renovation responsibility was with the Lords authorities Irvine defended the cost by stating that the materials would last longer than cheaper products 6 He was awarded a pay rise of 22 691 in 2003 as a result of a formula designed to keep his salary ahead that of the Lord Chief Justice However he accepted a lower increase following public backlash to the decision Personal life editIrvine was married to Alison McNair with whom he had a son Alistair and later divorced 7 He began his relationship with McNair during her marriage to Donald Dewar Alistair was sentenced to 16 months in jail in the US after pleading guilty to stalking and vandalism in 2002 8 9 Arms edit Coat of arms of Derry Irvine Baron Irvine of Lairg nbsp Crest A man in the attire of the Lord Chancellor s purse bearer and carrying the Lord Chancellor s purse Proper Escutcheon Argent three holly leaves Proper on a chief Azure two bears heads couped of the first muzzled Gules Supporters Dexter a salmon Proper having in its mouth a signet ring Or sinister a lion per fess Or and Sable Motto Do The Right 10 References edit The fall of Derry Irvine scotsman com Retrieved 23 February 2017 No 50874 The London Gazette 1st supplement 30 March 1987 p 4265 Peers tense over tights BBC News 13 October 1998 Lord Irvine angry over wigs BBC News 10 November 1998 a b Sylvester Rachel Winnett Robert 29 March 2008 Michael Martin s home gets 1 7m makeover The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on 2 April 2008 Retrieved 4 November 2012 BBC News UK Irvine s attempt to paper over cracks news bbc co uk Retrieved 23 February 2017 BBC News UK Politics Lord Irvine s guilt over Dewar s wife news bbc co uk Retrieved 23 February 2017 Irvine son held on stalking charges 12 April 2012 Irvine s son jailed for 16 months in US TheGuardian com 25 October 2002 Debrett s Peerage 2019 p 3148 Political offices Preceded byThe Lord Mishcon Shadow Lord Chancellor1992 1997 Succeeded byThe Lord Mackay of Clashfern Preceded byThe Lord Mackay of Clashfern Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain1997 2003 Succeeded byThe Lord Falconer of Thoroton Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom Preceded byThe Lord Sanderson of Bowden GentlemenBaron Irvine of Lairg Followed byThe Lord Stevens of Ludgate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Derry Irvine Baron Irvine of Lairg amp oldid 1219447177, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
