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'Tireless' Lib Dem stalwart dies

Wed May 07 12:10:42 UTC 2008

'Tireless' Lib Dem stalwart dies

Wed May 07 13:00:39 UTC 2008

The former MP for Argyll and Bute, Ray Michie, has died at the age of 74.

Tributes have been paid to the former MP for Argyll and Bute, Ray Michie, who has died at the age of 74.

The daughter of Lord and Lady Bannerman of Kildonan, she chaired the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1991 until 1993. The daughter of Lord and Lady Bannerman of Kildonan, she chaired the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1991 until 1993.
She was elected to the Argyll seat in 1987 and remained MP until she stood down from parliament in 2001, becoming a member of the House of Lords.She was elected to the Argyll seat in 1987 and remained MP until she stood down from parliament in 2001, becoming a member of the House of Lords.
A champion of the Gaelic language, she became the first peer to take the oath of allegiance in Gaelic as Baroness Michie of Gallanach.Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said she had a "first-class political brain".
The area's current MP, Alan Reid, said she worked tirelessly for her constituents in the Commons and continued this work in the Lords. We have all lost a true friend of principle and of people
Charles Kennedy MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber
"The people of Argyll and Bute will always have a special place in their hearts for Ray Michie," he said. Mr Kennedy said: "Ray Michie was one of my closest personal friends and professional confidantes in politics.
Home rule"The very sad news of her passing leaves public life much the poorer."
Mr Kennedy, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said: "Alongside her personal charm and tremendous sense of humour and fun was a first-class political brain which was able to judge individuals and issues with great shrewdness.
"She was never taken in by exaggeration and had a knack of getting right to the genuine heart of the matter. Her advice was always worth having.
"I was sorry when she decided to retire from the Commons but delighted when she accepted - after a little persuasion - my offer of a life peerage."
And he added: "We have all lost a true friend of principle and of people."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen said Baroness Michie had been one of the leading figures in the Scottish Liberal Democrats for many years.
"She always fought tirelessly for her constituents and for Scotland," he said.
"Ray was much loved by those inside and outside politics and will be very greatly missed."
Gaelic champion
The current Argyll and Bute MP, Alan Reid, added: "The people of Argyll and Bute will always have a special place in their hearts for Ray Michie."
A champion of the Gaelic language, she became the first peer to take the oath of allegiance in Gaelic as Baroness Michie of Gallanach.
She was educated at Aberdeen High School for Girls, Landsdowne House in Edinburgh and the Edinburgh College of Speech Therapy, before becoming a speech therapist. She was educated at Aberdeen High School for Girls, Landsdowne House in Edinburgh and the Edinburgh College of Speech Therapy, before becoming a speech therapist.
Baroness Michie served as the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Scottish affairs and was a member of the House of Commons select committee on Scottish affairs from 1992 to 1997.Baroness Michie served as the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Scottish affairs and was a member of the House of Commons select committee on Scottish affairs from 1992 to 1997.
A strong advocate of home rule, she was a participant in the early days of the Constitutional Convention. A strong advocate of home rule, she was a participant in the early days of the Constitutional Convention.
She was a member of a number of other bodies, including Gaelic organisation An Comunn Gàidhealach, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and the Scottish Crofters Union, and was also vice-president of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.She was a member of a number of other bodies, including Gaelic organisation An Comunn Gàidhealach, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and the Scottish Crofters Union, and was also vice-president of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
Married to a consultant physician, the mother-of-three lived in Oban. Married to a consultant physician, the mother-of-three lived in Oban.