Derry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg

The Right Honourable The Lord Irvine of Lairg PCKC
Lord Chancellor
In office 2 May 1997 – 12 June 2003
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	The Lord Mackay of Clashfern
Succeeded by	The Lord Falconer of Thoroton
Shadow portfolios
1992–1997	Shadow Lord Chancellor
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 March 1987 Life peerage
Personal details
Born	Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine (1940-06-23)23 June 1940 Inverness,Scotland,UK
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	University of Glasgow Christ's College, Cambridge

Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg,PC,KC(born 23 June 1940), known asDerry Irvine,is a Scottishlawyerand politician who served asLord Chancellorfrom 1997 to 2003.

He founded and headed 11 King's Bench Walk Chambers in the 1980s, and later became aRecorderand DeputyHigh Court Judge.A member of theLabour Party,Irvine was appointed to theHouse of Lordsin 1987 and served asShadow Lord Chancellorfrom 1992 to 1997. He was appointed to the position inCabinetbyPrime MinisterTony Blair,his former pupil, after the1997 electionand served until his dismissal in 2003.

Early life and education

Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine was born on 23 June 1940 inInverness,Scotlandto a roofer and a waitress. He was educated at the independentHutchesons' Boys' Grammar SchoolinGlasgow.

Irvine studiedScots lawat theUniversity of Glasgow,where he became involved in debating through theGlasgow University Dialectic SocietyandGlasgow University Union;He befriendedDonald DewarandJohn Smiththrough his involvement in the societies. Irvine subsequently studiedEnglish lawatChrist's College, Cambridge.

Legal career

After teaching law at theLondon School of Economics,Irvine wascalled to the Barin 1967 and joined chambers headed byMorris Finer.He was appointed aQueen's Counselin 1978 and founded 11 King's Bench Walk Chambers in 1981, becoming head of chambers. Irvine's pupil barristers includedTony BlairandCherie Booth.In the 1980s, he became aRecorderand later a DeputyHigh Court Judge.

Political career

At the1970 general election,Irvine unsuccessfully contestedHendon Northas theLabour Partycandidate.A legal adviser to the Party through the 1980s, he was awarded alife peerageasBaron Irvine of Lairg,ofLairgin the District ofSutherland,on 25 March 1987.

Irvine served asShadow Lord Chancellorfrom 1992 to 1997 under Labour leadersJohn Smith,Margaret Beckett,andTony Blair.After Labour's election victory in1997,Blair appointed him asLord Chancellor.

During Irvine's tenure as Lord Chancellor, he oversaw the incorporation of theEuropean Convention on Human Rightsinto 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.Irvine was the last Lord Chancellor to give judgments at theAppellate Committee of the House of Lords,giving a brief concurring judgment inAIB Group (UK) Ltd v Martin[2001] UKHL 63. He also gave the last reasoned judgment to be given by a Lord Chancellor, inUratemp Ventures Ltd v Collins[2001] UKHL 43.

Blair dismissed Irvine from theCabinetin 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 theJustice Secretaryfrom 2005.

Controversies

Irvine was criticised for spending £650,000 of public money to redecorate the Lord Chancellor's residence in 1998.The cost included £59,000 in hand-printed wallpaper, and contractors had to sign theOfficial Secrets Actto prevent expenditure leaks.Although renovation responsibility was with the Lords authorities, Irvine defended the cost by stating that the materials would last longer than cheaper products.

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 theLord Chief Justice.However, he accepted a lower increase following public backlash to the decision.

Personal life

Irvine was married to Alison McNair, with whom he had a son, Alistair, and later divorced.He began his relationship with McNair during her marriage toDonald Dewar.Alistair was sentenced to 16 months in jail in the US, after pleading guilty to stalking and vandalism in 2002.

Arms

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. Motto Do The Right