{{Short description|Scottish politician (1954–2026)}} {{redirect|Jim Wallace|other people named Jim Wallace|James Wallace (disambiguation){{!}}James Wallace}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use British English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] | name = The Lord Wallace of Tankerness | honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC|KC|FRSE}} | image = Jim Wallace.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2003 | office = [[First Minister of Scotland]] | term_label = [[Officegate|Acting]] | term_start = 8 November 2001 | term_end = 27 November 2001 | monarch = [[Elizabeth II]] | predecessor = [[Henry McLeish]] | successor = [[Jack McConnell]] | term_label1 = [[Donald Dewar#Death and funeral|Acting]] | term_start1 = 11 October 2000 | term_end1 = 27 October 2000 | monarch1 = Elizabeth II | predecessor1 = [[Donald Dewar]] | successor1 = Henry McLeish | office2 = [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland]] | term_start2 = 19 May 1999 | term_end2 = 23 June 2005 | first_minister2 = {{ubl|Donald Dewar|''Himself (acting)''|Henry McLeish|''Himself (acting)''|Jack McConnell}} | predecessor2 = ''Office established'' | successor2 = [[Nicol Stephen]] | office3 = [[Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats]] | term_start3 = 18 April 1992 | term_end3 = 23 June 2005 | deputy3 = [[Michael Moore (Scottish politician)|Michael Moore]] (from 2002) | 1blankname3 = {{nowrap|[[Leader of the Liberal Democrats|UK party leader]]}} | 1namedata3 = {{ubl|[[Paddy Ashdown]]|[[Charles Kennedy]]}} | 2blankname3 = President | 2namedata3 = {{ubl|[[Russell Johnston]]|[[Malcolm Bruce]]}} | predecessor3 = Malcolm Bruce | successor3 = Nicol Stephen {{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Ministerial offices | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office1 = [[Advocate General for Scotland]] | term_start1 = 14 May 2010 | term_end1 = 8 May 2015 | prime_minister1 = [[David Cameron]] | predecessor1 = [[The Lord Davidson of Glen Clova]] | successor1 = [[The Lord Keen of Elie]] | office2 = [[Leader of the House of Lords|Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]] | term_start2 = 15 October 2013 | term_end2 = 8 May 2015 | prime_minister2 = David Cameron | leader2 = {{ubl|[[The Lord Hill of Oareford]]|[[The Baroness Stowell of Beeston]]}} | predecessor2 = [[The Lord McNally]] | successor2 = [[Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe|The Earl Howe]] | office3 = [[Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning]] | term_start3 = 21 May 2003 | term_end3 = 27 June 2005 | first_minister3 = Jack McConnell | predecessor3 = [[Iain Gray]] (Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning) | successor3 = Nicol Stephen | office4 = [[Minister for Justice (Scotland)|Minister for Justice]] | term_start4 = 19 May 1999 | term_end4 = 21 May 2003 | first_minister4 = {{ubl|Donald Dewar|Henry McLeish}} | predecessor4 = ''Office established'' | successor4 = [[Cathy Jamieson]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }} {{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Parliamentary offices | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office1 = Member of the [[House of Lords]] | status1 = [[Lord Temporal]] | term_label1 = [[Life peer]]age | term_start1 = 17 October 2007 | term_end1 = 29 January 2026 | parliament2 = Scottish | constituency_MP2 = [[Orkney (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Orkney]] | term_start2 = 6 May 1999 | term_end2 = 2 April 2007 | predecessor2 = ''Constituency established'' | successor2 = [[Liam McArthur]] | parliament3 = United Kingdom | constituency_MP3 = [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]] | term_start3 = 9 June 1983 | term_end3 = 14 May 2001 | predecessor3 = [[Jo Grimond]] | successor3 = [[Alistair Carmichael]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }} | title4 = [[Liberal Democrat frontbench team|Liberal Democrat portfolios]] | subterm4 = 1988–1992 | suboffice4 = [[Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats|Chief Whip]] | subterm5 = 2013–2016 | suboffice5 = [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords|Leader in the House of Lords]] | title6 = Liberal portfolios | subterm6 = 1987–1988 | suboffice6 = [[Liberal Chief Whip|Chief Whip]] | birth_name = James Robert Wallace | birth_date = {{birth date|1954|08|25|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Annan, Dumfriesshire]], Scotland | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|01|29|1954|08|25|df=y}} | death_place = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland | party = [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] | other_party = [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] | spouse = {{marriage|Rosemary Fraser|1983}} | education = [[Annan Academy]] | alma_mater = {{ubl|class=nowraplinks|[[Downing College, Cambridge]] (BA)|[[University of Edinburgh]] (LLB)}} <!-- RELIGION REMOVED PER PROJECT-WIDE CONSENSUS AT THE VILLAGE PUMP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(policy)/Archive_126#RfC:_Religion_in_biographical_infoboxes --> }}
'''James Robert Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|PC|KC|FRSE}} (25 August 1954 – 29 January 2026) was a Scottish politician who served as a [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[life peer]] in the [[House of Lords]] from 2007 until his death in 2026. He had previously served as [[Deputy First Minister of Scotland]] from 1999 to 2005, and during that time was twice acting [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]], in 2000, in the aftermath of [[Donald Dewar]]'s death, and in 2001, following [[Henry McLeish]]'s resignation.
Wallace was [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats]] from 1992 to 2005 and [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords]] from 2013 to 2016.
Wallace served as a Liberal Democrat [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]] from [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]] to [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]] and a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for [[Orkney (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Orkney]] from [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]] to [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]]. He was [[Advocate General for Scotland]] from 2010 to 2015. He was [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] from 2021 to 2022 and for the duration of this appointment, he gave up his political affiliation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 October 2020 |title=Former deputy FM named Church of Scotland moderator|url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/former-deputy-fm-named-church-of-scotland-moderator|access-date=27 October 2020|website=STV News|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Wallace was born in [[Annan, Dumfries and Galloway|Annan]] in [[Dumfriesshire]], Scotland, to John and Grace Wallace, on 25 August 1954, and grew up there.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-jim-wallace/index.html|title = Jim Wallace |website = Journal of Liberal History|accessdate = 31 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/01/30/jim-wallace-tankerness-lib-dem-scottish-labour-coalition/|title = Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Scottish Lib Dem who served in coalitions with both Labour and Tories |website = [[The Daily Telegraph]]|date = 30 January 2026|accessdate = 31 January 2026|url-access = subscription}}</ref> His father, an accountant, was an elder for 64 years in the local Church of Scotland congregation, Annan Old Parish Church.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2026-02-10 |title=Lord Wallace remembered at funeral for 'integrity, sincerity and humility' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c795nwn2388o |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Scotland |first=The Church of |date=2026-02-10 |title=Tributes paid to 'humble Christian servant Lord Wallace at Orkney funeral service |url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/tributes-paid-to-humble-christian-servant-lord-wallace-at-orkney-funeral-service |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=The Church of Scotland |language=en}}</ref> He was involved in both the Boys Brigade and Scripture Union groups.<ref name=":1" /> He professed faith and formally joined the church while a student in 1973.<ref name=":1" />
As a boy, his first interest in politics was stoked when he collected autographs from politicians visiting the local area:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2840339.stm |title=CV: Jim Wallace |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2 April 2003 |access-date=19 July 2014}}</ref> as of 2005, he still possessed one from [[Tam Dalyell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4528653.stm |title=The constant face of devolution |work=BBC News |date=9 May 2005 |access-date=1 February 2026}}</ref>
He was educated at [[Annan Academy]], a state secondary school in his hometown of Annan. Following school, he was accepted by [[Downing College, Cambridge]], where he obtained a joint BA degree in economics and law. From there he returned to Scotland to study law at the [[University of Edinburgh]], graduating with an LLB degree in 1977.<ref name="WW">{{Who's Who | title=WALLACE of TANKERNESS | id = U38682 | volume = 2022 | edition = online}}</ref> Based in Edinburgh, he became a barrister in 1979, and he practised as an advocate at the [[Scottish Bar]], mostly in civil law cases.<ref name="WW" /><ref name=":0" />
==Political career==
===Member of Parliament (UK)=== Wallace joined the then-[[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] in the early 1970s,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/key_people/newsid_1179000/1179378.stm |title= Vote2001 > Key People > Jim Wallace: Deputy First Minister of Scotland |work=BBC News |date=23 March 2001 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref> but did not become very active in it until after completing his second degree. His first foray as a parliamentary candidate was in the [[constituency]] of [[Dumfriesshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire]] in 1979, where he failed to win, coming third of four candidates with 14.3% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=1979 General Election - Dumfries |url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/20730 |website=[[Parliament.uk]] |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref> He also stood, unsuccessfully, as the Liberal candidate in the [[South of Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|South of Scotland constituency]] at the [[European Parliament]] elections of that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=exc-AAAAIBAJ&pg=4197%2C7307180 |title=Who's who and where for E-day |newspaper=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |date=30 May 1979 |page=7 |via=[[Google News Archive]] |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref>
Four years later, he was selected as the Liberal nomination for the seat of [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]], the seat being vacated by former party leader [[Jo Grimond]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_vw9AAAAIBAJ&pg=4337%2C5151139 |title=Following the grand old man of the islands |first=Roy |last=Towers |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 May 1983 |page=9 |via=Google News Archive |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref> and won election to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. At the time, it was extremely rare for Liberal candidates to successfully win elections to succeed former Liberal MPs, although many have since done so. He was to serve as the MP there for 18 years, occupying a number of front bench posts for the Liberal Party (and, from 1988 onwards, the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]), including Employment spokesman and Chief Whip.<ref name="Parliament profile">{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/630/career |title=MPs and Lords > Find Lords > Lord Wallace of Tankerness |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |access-date=1 February 2026}}</ref>
In 1992, he was unopposed in becoming the new leader of the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]], succeeding [[Malcolm Bruce]]. Scottish politics at this time was dominated by the question of constitutional reform. There were few opportunities for legislation affecting Scots Law to be debated or effectively scrutinised at Westminster and, especially after the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 election]], with only ten [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MPs in Scotland but with a large majority in the House of Commons, it was argued that there was a democratic deficit in Scotland. He was appointed [[Queen's Counsel]] (QC) in 1997.<ref name="Parliament experience">{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/630/experience |title=MPs and Lords > Find Lords > Lord Wallace of Tankerness > Experience |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720185327/https://members.parliament.uk/member/630/experience |archive-date=20 July 2025 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref>
He led the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the first election to the new Scottish Parliament in [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]], himself winning the constituency of Orkney with 67% of the votes cast. This meant he served as a Member of both the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments for a time with a [[dual mandate]], although like other MPs elected to Holyrood (such as [[John Swinney]], [[John Home Robertson]] and [[Donald Gorrie]]) he stood down from Westminster at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/scotland/newsid_1309000/1309081.stm |title=Vote 2001 > Scots MPs bid farewell to Westminster |work=BBC News |date=9 May 2001|access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>
===Member of the Scottish Parliament=== As expected, the proportional election system for the new Scottish Parliament meant that [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] failed to gain an outright [[majority]] in the first elections.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44482845 |title=Modified Rapture All Round: The First Elections to the Scottish Parliament |author=William L. Miller |journal=[[Government and Opposition]] |volume=34 |number=3 |year=1999 |pages=299–322}}</ref> Their leader, [[Donald Dewar]], chose to seek a formal [[coalition]] government with a working majority rather than try to operate as a [[minority government]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/may/08/electionspast.uk5 |title=The Lib-Lab horse trading begins |first1=Ewen |last1=MacAskill |first2=Gerard |last2=Seenan |work=The Guardian |date=8 May 1999 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>
====Deputy First Minister==== [[File:Jim Wallace 1999.jpg|thumb|right|Official deputy first minister portrait, 1999]] Dewar contacted Wallace and a week of formal negotiations were held between the two parties' representatives, following which a partnership agreement was signed, committing both parties to support a negotiated joint agenda. Wallace became Deputy First Minister and [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs|Minister for Justice]], and maintained these briefs throughout the first term of the Parliament.<ref name="session1">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/32254.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999–2003): Jim Wallace MSP |date=8 August 2011 |publisher=[[The Scottish Parliament]] |access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref> The decision to enter a coalition government with Labour was controversial at the time. British politicians were unaccustomed to coalition politics, and the Liberal Democrats came under fire from Conservative and SNP opponents who claimed they had 'sold out' their principles. Key to this criticism was the Labour policy of making students pay tuition fees, which the Liberal Democrats had promised to abolish as their price of entering a coalition, but which became merely the subject of an inquiry as the coalition was formed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/dec/21/scotland.tuitionfees |title=Tuition fees deal saves coalition |first1=Gerard |last1=Seenan |first2=Ewen |last2=MacAskill |work=The Guardian |date=21 December 1999 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> In the event, the Liberal Democrats did insist on the abolition of tuition fees after the inquiry reported in 2001, but in 1999, the delay was perceived to have been a compromise, and Wallace in particular became the focal point for extremely bitter criticism.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/lib-dems-accused-of-surrender-as-coalition-deal-signed/26150148.html |title=Lib Dems accused of 'surrender' as coalition deal signed |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=15 May 1999 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Despite this, and other difficult moments, he and his party stayed firm and remained in power. Wallace established himself as a minister.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/25809582.jim-wallace-helped-define-scottish-parliament/ |title=Jim Wallace helped define the Scottish Parliament |first=Andrew |last=Learmonth |work=The Herald |location=Scotland |date=29 January 2026 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>
====Acting First Minister==== On three occasions over the first term of the Parliament, he became [[List of first ministers of Scotland|Acting First Minister]]: twice in 2000 due to at first the illness<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/726320.stm |title=Wallace takes reins as Dewar recovers |work=BBC News |date=26 April 2000 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref> and later the death, of the first First Minister [[Donald Dewar]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/966752.stm |title=In Depth > Donald Dewar > What happens now? |work=BBC News |date=12 October 2000 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref> and then again in 2001, after the resignation of Dewar's successor as First Minister, [[Henry McLeish]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/scotland/2001/mcleish_resignation/1645726.stm |title=Wallace steps into the breach |work=BBC News |date=8 November 2001 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref> In the first instance, Dewar returned to office in less than four months.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/scotland/2000/donald_dewar/879123.stm |title=First Minister returns to the fray |work=BBC News |date=14 August 2000 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Under his continued leadership, the Scottish Liberal Democrats' popularity grew steadily. After leading the party through the second Holyrood elections in [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003 Elections]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/17/elections2003.uk |title=Elections 2003 > Can Jim fix it? |first=Kirsty |last=Scott |work=The Guardian |date=17 April 2003 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> again winning 17 MSPs but with a higher share of the vote, he led the party into a second coalition with Labour. The 2003 coalition negotiation process was widely seen as a more successful enterprise by the Liberal Democrats than the preceding one, with key aspects of Labour's proposals on [[anti-social behaviour]] dropped or limited, and with the promise of [[proportional representation]] for Scotland's 32 local councils.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/may/14/scotland.devolution |title=Lib/Lab deal secures Holyrood coalition |first=Matthew |last=Tempest |work=The Guardian |date=14 May 2003 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Wallace remained as Deputy First Minister, but left the Justice brief, becoming instead the [[Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning]].<ref name="session2">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/30544.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003–2007): Jim Wallace MSP |date=7 November 2011 |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref>
===Resignation and peerage=== [[File:Accession Council of King Charles III - 13.jpg|thumb|left|Wallace at the Accession Council of King Charles III, September 2022]] On 9 May 2005, following the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 General Election]], Wallace announced his intention to stand down as party leader and Deputy First Minister. He would remain as [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]] for [[Orkney]] until the 2007 election, but would serve his time out as a [[backbencher]]. He ceased to be an MSP with the [[Scottish Parliament|dissolution of the Scottish Parliament]] on 2 April 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/spice/factsheets/parliamentary-business/dates-of-recess-and-dissolution-and-parliamentary--years-and-recalls-of-parliament.pdf |title=Dates of recess, dissolution, parliamentary years and recalls of Parliament |publisher=[[Scottish Parliament]] |date=18 December 2025 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> On 13 September 2007, it was announced that he was to be appointed to the [[House of Lords]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6993788.stm |title=Former Lib Dem leader made a peer |work=[[BBC News]] |date=13 September 2007 |access-date=19 July 2014}}</ref> He was subsequently created a [[life peer]] on 17 October 2007 taking the title '''Baron Wallace of Tankerness''', ''of [[Tankerness]] in Orkney''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58495 |date=26 October 2007 |page=15513}}</ref>
On 28 April 2008, it was announced that the new Lord Wallace would be a member of the [[Commission on Scottish Devolution]], chaired by [[Kenneth Calman|Sir Kenneth Calman]], established by the Scottish Parliament to consider the future powers of the Parliament, including powers over finance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7371693.stm |title=Devolution body members announced |work=BBC News |date=28 April 2008 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> In November 2008, Wallace received a lifetime achievement award in the [[Scottish Politician of the Year]] Awards.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/lord-wallace-s-lifetime-of-achievement-rewarded-1.894729 |title=Lord Wallace's Lifetime of Achievement |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)]] |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref>
In March 2010, Wallace briefly returned to the bar.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/ex-minister-jim-wallace-returns-to-the-bar-1731010 |title=Ex-minister Jim Wallace returns to the Bar |work=the Scotsman |date=7 March 2010 |access-date=1 February 2026}}</ref> In May 2010, he was appointed Advocate General for Scotland, one of the [[Law Officers of the Crown]], who advise the government on Scots law.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/hm-advocate-general-for-scotland |title= Ministerial role: HM Advocate General for Scotland |publisher=[[UK Government]] |access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref>
He was elected unopposed, as the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords on 15 October 2013, replacing [[Tom McNally, Baron McNally|Lord McNally]], who had stepped down earlier in the month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24538341 |title=Jim Wallace to lead Lib Dems in Lords |work=BBC News |date=15 October 2013}}</ref> In September 2016, he stepped down as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat in the House of Lords, citing a desire to step back from "frontline" politics stating "I was first elected to the House of Commons 33 years ago. For 28 of these years, I have been on the frontline, including sixteen years in a leadership role, here in the Lords and in Scotland."<ref>{{cite web|title=Jim Wallace resigns as Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords|url=http://stv.tv/news/politics/1360617-jim-wallace-resigns-as-lib-dem-leader-in-the-house-of-lords/|work=STV News |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>
Wallace was chair of the charity [[Reprieve (organisation)|Reprieve]] until 2021, when he was succeeded in that role by [[Elish Angiolini]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dame Elish Angiolini joins Reprieve as Chair of Trustees|url=https://reprieve.org/uk/2021/05/04/dame-elish-angiolini-joins-reprieve-as-chair-of-trustees/|website=Reprieve|date=4 May 2021|access-date=29 January 2026|language=en-GB|first=Andrew|last=Purcell}}</ref>
== Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland == A longstanding Elder of the [[Church of Scotland]] at [[St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall]], he was nominated and appointed to be [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] for 2021–2022.<ref>{{cite web | title=Former deputy first minister to be Church of Scotland moderator | website=BBC News | date=27 October 2020 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-54703841 | access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="Grampian">{{cite web|url=https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/lord-wallace-inducted-as-moderator-of-the-general-assembly-o-239161/ |title=Lord Wallace inducted as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland |date=23 May 2021 |publisher=Grampian Online |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57212592| title=Former deputy first minister Jim Wallace is new Kirk moderator | date=22 May 2021 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref> It is highly unusual for a lay person to be nominated as Moderator, predecessors being [[Alison Elliot]] in 2004 and [[George Buchanan]] in 1567.<ref>{{cite web | title=Former Deputy First Minister named Moderator Designate for 2021–22 | website=The Church of Scotland | date=26 October 2020 | url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2020/2020/Former-Deputy-First-Minister-named-Moderator-Designate-for-2021-22 | access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== [[File:Official portrait of Lord Wallace of Tankerness, 2019.jpg|thumb|Official Portrait, 2019]] In 1983, Wallace married Rosemary (née Fraser), a speech therapist whom he called "Rosie". The couple had two daughters, Helen and Clare, and grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news |title=In sickness and in health, but not in tow |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12028420.in-sickness-and-in-health-but-not-in-tow/ |date=11 September 1996 |work=Herald Scotland |access-date=5 February 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
He was an [[Ministers and elders in the Church of Scotland|elder]] of the [[Church of Scotland]]. He was first ordained in what was St Bernard's Church in [[Stockbridge, Edinburgh|Stockbridge]], Edinburgh, in 1981. By 1990, he was inducted to the eldership at [[St Magnus Cathedral]] in [[Kirkwall]], Orkney, where he became a member of the church.<ref name=":1" /> He was active in contributing to public worship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/reel/1163905362213662/?rdid=5SaBla5XkHWW4nQ9&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fv%2F1Be1dhYL2R%2F#|title=St Magnus Cathedral Service|date=18 January 2026|website=St Magnus Cathedral Facebook}}</ref> Wallace was also a Vice President of the [[National Churches Trust]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Presidents and Patrons |url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/about-us/our-presidents-and-patrons |publisher=[[National Churches Trust]] |access-date=5 February 2026}}</ref> He was a keen singer, being a member of the choirs at both St Magnus Cathedral and [[Dunblane Cathedral]].<ref name=":0" />
In 2023 he survived [[aortic dissection]], needing to undergo major surgery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,jim-wallace-my-faith-was-a-comfort-when-i-nearly-died |title=Jim Wallace: 'My faith was a comfort when I nearly died' |first=Margaret |last=Taylor |work=[[Holyrood (magazine)|Holyrood]] |date=7 May 2024 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref>
He had undergone a procedure at the [[Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh]], but Wallace died from complications from that surgery on 29 January 2026, at the age of 71.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scotland's first deputy first minister Lord Jim Wallace dies, aged 71 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2l3dy0llro |access-date=29 January 2026 |publisher=BBC News |date=29 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Former deputy first minister Jim Wallace dies after surgery 'complications' |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/former-deputy-first-minister-jim-wallace-dies-after-surgery-complications |access-date=29 January 2026 |publisher=STV News |date=29 January 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He was survived by his wife, Rosie; his daughters, Helen and Clare - along with their families, his brother, Neil, and his mother, Grace, who still lives in Annan.<ref name=":1" />
His funeral was held on the morning of 10 February 2026 at St Magnus Cathedral, and was conducted by Rev Dr Marjory MacLean, who had served as one of his chaplains during his year as Moderator.<ref name=":1" /> In place of the current moderator, former Moderator, [[Iain Torrance]], was in attendance.<ref name=":1" /> Numerous politicians attended his funeral, including First Minister [[John Swinney]], as well and the UK and Scottish Liberal Democrat leaders, [[Ed Davey]] and [[Alex Cole-Hamilton]]. During the funeral, Liberal Democrat MSP [[Liam McArthur]], and MP [[Alistair Carmichael|Alastair Carmichael]] gave eulogies. Lord Wallace's brother Neil also addressed mourners in the cathedral.<ref name=":0" /> Following the funeral, he was interred at a private service at St Andrew's Cemetery in Tankerness.<ref name=":1" />
== Honours and awards == Wallace received an Honorary Doctorate from [[Heriot-Watt University]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.hw.ac.uk/annual-review/2007/people_awards.html |title=Annual Review 2007 : Principal's Review |website=www1.hw.ac.uk |access-date=29 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032855/http://www1.hw.ac.uk/annual-review/2007/people_awards.html |archive-date= 5 March 2016 }}</ref>
In 2018, Wallace was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh]] (FRSE).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rse.org.uk/fellow/james-wallace-of-tankerness/|title=The Rt Hon Lord James Wallace of Tankerness FRSE |publisher=The Royal Society of Edinburgh|access-date=14 March 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of Scottish Executive Ministerial Teams]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Hansard-contribs | mr-jim-wallace | Jim Wallace }} * {{SP-MSP}} * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4528653.stm The Constant Face of Devolution] BBC News profile, 9 May 2005 * {{IMDb name|2241182}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baron Wallace of Tankerness, Jim Wallace}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:2026 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century King's Counsel]] [[Category:21st-century King's Counsel]] [[Category:Alumni of Downing College, Cambridge]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh School of Law]] [[Category:Advocates general for Scotland]] [[Category:Deputy first ministers of Scotland]] [[Category:Elders of the Church of Scotland]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh]] [[Category:Justice ministers of Scotland]] [[Category:Leaders of the Scottish Liberal Democrats]] [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) life peers]] [[Category:Liberal Democrat MSPs]] [[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]] [[Category:Scottish Liberal Party MPs]] [[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Orkney and Shetland]] [[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007]] [[Category:Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] [[Category:Nobility from Dumfries and Galloway]] [[Category:Ordained peers]] [[Category:People associated with Heriot-Watt University]] [[Category:People associated with Orkney]] [[Category:People educated at Annan Academy]] [[Category:People from Annan, Dumfries and Galloway]] [[Category:Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs]] [[Category:Scottish King's Counsel]] [[Category:UK MPs 1983–1987]] [[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]] [[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]] [[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]]