{{Short description|British politician (1941–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use British English|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] | name = The Lord Campbell of Pittenweem | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CH|CBE|PC|KC}} | image = Sir Ming Campbell MP 2008 cropped.jpg | caption = Campbell in 2008 | office = [[Leader of the Liberal Democrats]] | deputy = [[Vince Cable]] | president = [[Simon Hughes]] | term_start = 2 March 2006 | term_end = 15 October 2007{{efn|name=fn1|Campbell served as acting leader from 7 January to 2 March 2006 following the resignation of [[Charles Kennedy]].}} | predecessor = [[Charles Kennedy]] | successor = [[Nick Clegg]]{{efn|[[Vince Cable]] acted from 15 October 2007 to 18 December 2007.}} | office1 = [[Chancellor of the University of St Andrews]] | term_start1 = 9 January 2006 | term_end1 = 26 September 2025 | 1blankname1 = [[Principal of the University of St Andrews|Vice-Chancellor]] | 1namedata1 = {{plainlist| * [[Brian Lang]] * [[Louise Richardson]] * [[Sally Mapstone]] }} | predecessor1 = [[Kenneth Dover]] | successor1 = [[Anne Pringle|Dame Anne Pringle]] | office2 = [[Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats]] | leader2 = Charles Kennedy | term_start2 = 12 February 2003 | term_end2 = 2 March 2006 | predecessor2 = [[Alan Beith]] | successor2 = Vince Cable | title3 = [[Liberal Democrat frontbench team|Liberal Democrats spokesperson]] | subterm3 = 1992–2006 | suboffice3 = [[Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson|Foreign Affairs]] | subterm4 = 2017–2019 | suboffice4 = [[Second Frontbench Team of Vince Cable|Defence]] {{Collapsed infobox section begin |cont = yes |Parliamentary offices | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office6 = Member of the [[House of Lords]] | status6 = [[Lord Temporal]] | term_label6 = [[Life peer]]age | term_start6 = 13 October 2015 | term_end6 = 26 September 2025 | parliament7 = United Kingdom | constituency_MP7 = [[North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|North East Fife]] | term_start7 = 11 June 1987 | term_end7 = 30 March 2015 | predecessor7 = [[Barry Henderson]] | successor7 = [[Stephen Gethins]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }} | birth_name = Walter Menzies Campbell | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|5|22|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland | death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2025|9|26|1941|5|22|df=y}}}} | death_place = London, England | party = {{plainlist| * [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] (until 1988) * [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (from 1988) }} | spouse = {{marriage|[[Elspeth Campbell|Elspeth Urquhart]]|1970|2023|end=died}} | alma_mater = {{plainlist| * [[University of Glasgow]] * [[Stanford University]] }} | website = {{Official website|mingcampbell.org.uk}} | signature = Menzies Campbell Signature.png | module = {{Infobox |child=yes |headerstyle=background:lavender; |header1= {{Infobox sportsperson | child = yes | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Sport of athletics|athletics]] }} {{Medal|Country|{{Flagu|Great Britain}}}} {{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Summer World University Games|Summer Universiade]]}} {{Medal|Gold|[[1963 Summer Universiade|1963 Porto Alegre]]|[[Athletics at the 1963 Summer Universiade – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 x 400 m]] }} {{Medal|Silver|[[1967 Summer Universiade|1967 Tokyo]]|[[Athletics at the 1967 Summer Universiade – Men's 200 metres|200 m]] }} {{Medal|Silver|1967 Tokyo|[[Athletics at the 1967 Summer Universiade – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 x 400 m]] }} {{Medal|Bronze|[[1961 Summer Universiade|1961 Sofia]]|[[Athletics at the 1961 Summer Universiade – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 x 400 m]] }} {{Medal|Bronze|[[1965 Summer Universiade|1965 Budapest]]|[[Athletics at the 1965 Summer Universiade – Men's 200 metres|200 m]] }} {{Medal|Bronze|1967 Tokyo|[[Athletics at the 1967 Summer Universiade – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 x 100 m]] }} }} }} }}

'''Walter Menzies''' "'''Ming'''" '''Campbell, Baron Campbell of Pittenweem'''{{efn|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CH|CBE|PC|KC|commas=on}}}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɪ|ŋ|ᵻ|s}}; 22 May 1941 – 26 September 2025), was a Scottish politician, advocate and athlete. A senior figure in the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], he served as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|North East Fife]] from 1987 to 2015 and led the party from 2006 to 2007. He held prominent [[Liberal Democrat frontbench team|frontbench roles]] in [[Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson|foreign affairs]] and defence, and was [[Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats|deputy leader]] under [[Charles Kennedy]].

Before entering politics, Campbell was a distinguished sprinter, captaining the Great Britain athletics team in the mid-1960s and holding the British [[100 metre]] record from 1967 to 1974. He studied law at the [[University of Glasgow]] and [[Stanford University]], and was called to the [[Scottish Bar]], later becoming [[Queen's Counsel]].

Campbell was appointed [[Chancellor of the University of St Andrews]] in 2006 and made a [[life peer]] in 2015, serving in both roles until his death in 2025.

==Education and early career== Born in Glasgow on 22 May 1941, Campbell was educated at [[Hillhead High School]] and the [[University of Glasgow]], from where he graduated with a [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|Scottish Master of Arts]] (MA) in 1962 and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] (LLB) in 1965.<ref name="guardian-obit">{{cite news |last1=Bates |first1=Stephen |title=Lord Campbell of Pittenweem obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/26/lord-campbell-of-pittenweem |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=26 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="Who's Who">{{cite book |chapter=CAMPBELL, Rt Hon. Sir (Walter) Menzies |title=Who's Who 2012 |publisher=A & C Black |date=December 2011}}</ref> He was elected President of the Glasgow University Liberal Club in 1962, and of the [[Glasgow University Union]] for 1964–65.<ref name="Who's Who"/> He later undertook postgraduate study in [[international law]] at [[Stanford University]] in the US state of [[California]] before being called to the [[Scottish Bar]] in 1968. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1984, and became [[King's Counsel]] following the accession of [[Charles III|King Charles III]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=26 September 2025 |title=The death of University Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Campbell of Pittenweem |url=https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/the-death-of-university-chancellor-the-rt-hon-lord-campbell-of-pittenweem/ |access-date=26 September 2025 |website=University of St Andrews}}</ref>

==Athletics career==

He was a [[sprint (running)|sprinter]] at university and he broke Olympic gold medalist [[Wyndham Halswelle]]'s 53-year-old Scottish 300 yards record in 1961.<ref>{{cite news |author=Doug Gillon |title=Hero from a forsaken generation |newspaper=The Herald Scotland |date=21 July 2008 |url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/thearchive/display.var.2403999.0.hero_from_a_forsaken_generation.php}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Campbell competed for the [[Great Britain at the 1964 Summer Olympics|Great Britain team]] in the [[Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 metres|200 metres]] and [[Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4×100 metres relay]] at the [[1964 Summer Olympics|1964 Olympic Games]] in Tokyo,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/menzies-campbell-1.html |title=Menzies Campbell Biography and Olympic Results &#124; Olympics at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |date=22 May 1941 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026015235/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ca/menzies-campbell-1.html |archive-date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and captained the [[Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland|Scotland team]] at the [[1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]] in [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. He also captained the Great Britain athletics team in 1965 and 1966, and held the British 100 metres record from 1967 to 1974. At one time he was known as "the fastest white man on the planet",<ref>Carlin, Brendan. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/03/nlib203.xml ''"On your marks, Ming"''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018093935/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2006%2F03%2F03%2Fnlib203.xml |date=18 October 2007 }} – [[The London Daily Telegraph]] – 3 March 2006</ref> running the 100m in 10.2 seconds twice during 1967.<ref>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1884 Allan Wells page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018093311/http://sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1884 |date=18 October 2007 }} – at sporting-heroes.net</ref> In his first 10.2-second race he beat [[O. J. Simpson]], who was then an aspiring athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Home |first1=Politics |title=Race to the Finish |url=http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/61330/sir_menzies_campbell_race_to_the_finish.html |website=politicshome.com |access-date=10 September 2015 |date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028100232/http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/61330/sir_menzies_campbell_race_to_the_finish.html |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Campbell was twice the [[List of British champions in 200 metres|British 220 yards champion]] after winning the British [[AAA Championships]] title at the [[1964 AAA Championships]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19640711/167/0011 |title=Six-mile Smasher |work=Daily Herald |date=11 July 1964 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000729/19640712/262/0022 |title=White City round-up |work=The People |date=12 July 1964 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> and [[1967 AAA Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>

==Political career== Campbell first stood for the [[Scottish Liberal Party]] at the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974 general election]], in the [[Greenock and Port Glasgow (UK Parliament constituency)|Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency]], where he finished second of five candidates, with 20.6% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=February 1974 General Election - Greenock and Port Glasgow |url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/19537 |website=[[Parliament.uk]] |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> He stood again in the same constituency at the subsequent [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|general election in October 1974]], dropping to third of four candidates, with 19.4% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=October 1974 General Election - Greenock and Port Glasgow |url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/20172 |website=Parliament.uk |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref>

In the [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979 general election]], Campbell stood in the [[East Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|East Fife constituency]], coming second of four candidates with 23% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=1979 General Election - East Fife |url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/20739 |website=Parliament.uk |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> He stood in the seat's successor constituency, [[North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency)|North East Fife]], at the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]], coming second of five candidates with 40.2% of the vote, a 16.2% swing to the Liberal Party from the [[Scottish Conservatives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1983 General Election - North East Fife |url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/21594 |website=Parliament.uk |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref> Four years later, at the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]], Campbell defeated the incumbent Conservative MP [[Barry Henderson]] to win the seat with 44.8% of the vote, going on to hold the seat at every general election until his retirement in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=1987 General Election - North East Fife |url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/22244 |website=Parliament.uk |access-date=30 September 2025}}</ref>

===Member of Parliament=== ====Liberal Democrats frontbenches==== As foreign affairs spokesperson, Campbell was prominent in the Liberal Democrat opposition to the 2003 [[Iraq War]], arguing that the British government should publish the [[Attorney General for England and Wales|Attorney General]]'s secret advice on the war's legality and criticising [[Tony Blair]]'s support for President [[George W. Bush]]. In 2004, Campbell set out his view of the Anglo-American relationship in the context of an unjust war: "For more than 60 years we have been engaged in an intimate and rewarding relationship with the United States. We must not allow our foreign policy to be defined by that relationship. We have to recognise that the World's most powerful English-speaking nation will always be a powerful influence upon us. Given what we share, it could hardly be otherwise. But a relationship with the United States based on the flawed principle, "my ally right or wrong" is not only profoundly illiberal but will be unsustainable as well."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/sep/24/libdems2003.liberaldemocrats1 Menzies Campbell's speech], Guardian.co.uk, 24 September 2003</ref>

====Leader of the Liberal Democrats==== On 7 January 2006, Campbell became interim leader following [[Charles Kennedy]]'s resignation, before winning [[2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election|the subsequent leadership contest]]. On 2 March 2006, Campbell was declared leader after winning the leadership election under the [[alternative vote]] method. The first-round votes placed him in the lead, at 23,264 to Huhne's 16,691 and [[Simon Hughes]]'s 12,081. Hughes was accordingly eliminated, and his second-preference votes were split between the two remaining candidates. The final result was Campbell at 29,697 and [[Chris Huhne]] at 21,628 on a 72% membership turnout.<ref>[http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/story.html?navPage=news.html&id=9802 Ming Campbell elected Liberal Democrat leader] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717210622/http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/story.html?navPage=news.html&id=9802 |date=17 July 2006 }} Liberal Democrats, 2 March 2006</ref>

Campbell promoted many younger MPs to his [[Liberal Democrat frontbench team|frontbench team]] including former MEP [[Nick Clegg]] as Home Affairs spokesperson and 26-year-old [[Jo Swinson]] as Scotland spokesperson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/jo-swinson/1513|title=Jo Swinson MP|website=UK Parliament|access-date=21 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182850/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/jo-swinson/1513|archive-date=21 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====Questions over leadership===== Campbell's early performances at the weekly [[Prime Minister's Questions]] were criticised,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4602020.stm Prime minister's questions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822235807/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4602020.stm |date=22 August 2006 }}. BBC News, 11 January 2006.</ref> leading him to declare himself "perfectly confident" that he could fulfil the role of party leader.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4770169.stm "Sir Menzies defending his record"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061225122922/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4770169.stm |date=25 December 2006 }}. BBC News, 14 May 2006.</ref> Campbell regained some ground with the controversy over the US practice of "[[extraordinary rendition]]",<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5055544.stm This was Ming's day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625181353/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5055544.stm |date=25 June 2006 }} BBC News, 7 June 2006.</ref> the case of the [[NatWest Three]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5171266.stm "MPs angry at 'unfair' extradition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717204739/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5171266.stm |date=17 July 2006 }}. BBC News, 12 July 2006.</ref> and the [[2006 Lebanon War|conflict in Lebanon]].<ref name="End Israel arms export - Lib Dems">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5211382.stm End Israel arms export – Lib Dems]. BBC News, 24 July 2006.</ref>

According to polls published in July 2006, twice as many voters preferred [[Charles Kennedy]] as leader over Campbell, which led to further criticism of Campbell's leadership.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5196874.stm "Kennedy receives popularity boost"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830105429/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5196874.stm |date=30 August 2006 }}. BBC News, 19 July 2006.</ref> However, Kennedy called rumours that he was considering challenging for the leadership as "fanciful".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5228092.stm "Kennedy denies leadership reports"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827152222/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5228092.stm |date=27 August 2006 }}. BBC News, 30 July 2006.</ref>

In 2006, the [[University of St Andrews]] awarded an honorary doctorate of law to former president [[Mohammad Khatami]] of [[Iran]], which sparked some criticism, although as chancellor he was only the titular head and not involved in such decisions.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article612075.ece The dishonouring of St Andrews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524021447/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article612075.ece |date=24 May 2011 }}. Times Online, 25 October 2006.</ref><ref>Cohen, Nick (22 October 2006), [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/oct/22/comment.theobserver It isn't just Bono's U2 who are talking through their hat about tax avoidance] Guardian Unlimited.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/iran/story/0,,1887735,00.html |title=Khatami's UK visit to bring tirade from Iran|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Robert |last=Tait |date= 5 October 2006}}</ref> Khatami was elected as [[President of Iran]] in 1997 and 2001, both occasions on platforms of social and political reform and a "[[Dialogue Among Civilizations]]" that put Khatami significantly at odds with his conservative successor, [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]].

Shortly before [[Gordon Brown]] took over as prime minister in June 2007, Campbell was invited to a meeting with the then [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]. Brown surprised Campbell by requesting that two Liberal Democrats ([[Paddy Ashdown|Lord Ashdown]] and [[Lady Neuberger]]) join his cabinet. After taking 24 hours to consult and consider, Campbell rejected the offer as unworkable, given the gulf between the parties on issues of foreign policy and civil liberties. [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] leaked news of the meeting to the media and went behind Campbell to offer the job of [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] to Ashdown anyway; who turned it down.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6227550.stm "Lib Dem anger over Brown tricks"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703120015/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6227550.stm |date=3 July 2007 }}. BBC News, 21 June 2007.</ref>

Following intense speculation in late 2007, [[Gordon Brown]] announced there would be no general election in 2007. Following this announcement, Campbell's leadership again came under question, with some in the party feeling that now the heat was off the time was ripe to get a younger leader potentially more capable of connecting with voters. On 15 October, Campbell's deputy [[Vince Cable]] conceded on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[The World at One]]'' programme that Campbell's position was "certainly under discussion", adding "I don't think it's under threat", but on the same programme party stalwart [[Chris Clarke (politician)|Sir Chris Clarke]] advised Campbell to "go with dignity and go back to being foreign affairs spokesman, where the world listens to you".<ref>[[Michael White (journalist)|Michael White]], [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2007/oct/15/michaelwhitespoliticalblog6 Michael White's Political Blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306031057/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2007/oct/15/michaelwhitespoliticalblog6 |date=6 March 2016 }} for 15 October 2007 at guardian.co.uk.</ref> Later the same day came an announcement by the party that Campbell would step down as leader.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/12/nlibs112.xml "Sir Ming warned as Lib Dems hunt poll boost"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414192349/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F10%2F12%2Fnlibs112.xml |date=14 April 2008 }}. ''Daily Telegraph''.</ref><ref>Mulholland, Hélène (12 October 2007), [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/oct/12/liberaldemocrats.sirmenziescampbell "Lib Dem leader may face challenge as poll ratings drop"], Guardian.co.uk; accessed 12 February 2016.</ref>

=====Resignation of leadership===== [[File:Menzies Campbell at EIFF.jpg|thumb|Campbell at the [[Edinburgh International Film Festival]] in 2007]]

Campbell resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats on 15 October 2007. The announcement was made from the steps of Cowley Street by Party President [[Simon Hughes]]. Alongside him was deputy Leader [[Vince Cable]]; they praised Campbell's leadership and said the party owed him a debt of gratitude. In his letter of resignation, addressed to Hughes, Campbell stated, "It has become clear that following the Prime Minister's decision not to hold an election, questions about leadership are getting in the way of further progress by the party".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mingcampbell.org.uk|title=Campbell's website|publisher=Mingcampbell.org.uk|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314121729/http://www.mingcampbell.org.uk/|archive-date=14 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cable became acting leader of the Liberal Democrats until a [[2007 Liberal Democrats leadership election|leadership election]] could be held.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7045833.stm Liberal Democrat leader resigns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017021709/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7045833.stm |date=17 October 2007 }} 15 October 2007</ref> Campbell became the first elected leader of the Liberal Democrats who left the leadership without ever leading the party to a general election. Following the resignation, a leadership contender, [[Nick Clegg]], alleged that Campbell had been a victim of [[ageism]] throughout his term as party leader, saying he had been treated "appallingly" and subject to "barely disguised ageism"; his successor Clegg was over 25 years his junior.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Eddie|url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/liberaldemocrats/Clegg-anger-over-ageism-against.3472670.jp|title=Clegg anger over 'ageism' against Campbell|publisher=Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609042138/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/liberaldemocrats/Clegg-anger-over-ageism-against.3472670.jp|archive-date=9 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Concerns about ageism directed at Campbell from the media had also been raised by the charity Age Concern in September 2006. [[Gordon Lishman]], the director of the charity, said "the recent media coverage poking fun at Sir Menzies has brought to light the age discrimination that is epidemic in the media and society". Attacking media coverage that seemed to focus on his age, Lishman added "clearly the media needs to update its attitudes and get with the times; people are living and working longer and age discrimination is out dated".<ref>{{cite news|author=Matt Weaver|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/21/libdems2006.liberaldemocrats6|title=Charities defend Campbell against 'ageist' media|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 September 2006|access-date=25 April 2010|location=London, UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925172335/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/21/libdems2006.liberaldemocrats6|archive-date=25 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Expenses claims==== Campbell reportedly claimed around £10,000 over two years to redesign his flat in London, which included the purchasing of a king-sized bed, scatter cushions and a small flat screen television. It was also claimed that on occasions Campbell spent £800 a month on food. Campbell said he believed that the claims were "within the spirit and letter of the rules" as the flat had not been renovated for 20 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hope|first=Christopher|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5314759/Sir-Menzies-Campbell-hired-top-designer-for-10000-overhaul-of-flat-MPs-expenses.html|title=Daily Telegraph: Sir Menzies Campbell|publisher=Telegraph.co.uk|date=5 August 2006|access-date=13 May 2009|location=London, UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514152029/http://www.telegraph.co.uk//news//newstopics//mps-expenses//5314759//Sir-Menzies-Campbell-hired-top-designer-for-10000-overhaul-of-flat-MPs-expenses.html|archive-date=14 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Retirement from the House of Commons==== [[File:Official portrait of Lord Campbell of Pittenweem.jpg|thumb|Official Portrait, 2019]] On 9 October 2013, Campbell announced that he would stand down as a Member of Parliament at the 2015 general election. He said: "It is always a regret to begin the process of retiring from the House of Commons but I believe now is the time to start".<ref name="targe">{{cite web|url=http://thetarge.co.uk/hub-current-affairs/scotland/menzies-campbell-mp-begins-process-of-retiring/0120|title=Menzies Campbell MP begins 'process of retiring'|date=9 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013002951/http://thetarge.co.uk/hub-current-affairs/scotland/menzies-campbell-mp-begins-process-of-retiring/0120|archive-date=13 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Liberal Democrat Leader [[Nick Clegg]] paid tribute, saying Campbell "served this country and our party with unparalleled distinction".<ref name="bbcresign">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24466721|title=Sir Menzies Campbell to stand down as MP in 2015|date=9 October 2013|access-date=9 October 2013|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009144810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24466721|archive-date=9 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

There was speculation in 2013 that he would be offered a seat in the House of Lords<ref name="bbcresign"/> – an opportunity in which, during an interview with Chat Politics, Campbell declared his interest.<ref name="targe"/> He became a [[life peer]] and a member of the House of Lords in October 2015. Campbell stated that he believed the House of Lords should be "mainly elected" and that he would continue to promote that idea "within the house itself."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sir Menzies Campbell: 'Lords should be mainly elected'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-34079592|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827235611/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34079592|archive-date=27 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political views== Campbell promoted policies to shift taxation away from "goods" such as employment and towards "bads" such as pollution through a revenue-neutral restructuring of the tax system that maintains the current tax burden whilst lifting two-million low-paid individuals out of income tax altogether.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5056200.stm Lib Dems pledge to cut income tax] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831042426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5056200.stm |date=31 August 2006 }} BBC News, 8 June 2006</ref>

Campbell's primary area of interest was acknowledged to be foreign policy. He strongly supported multilateral institutions such as the [[European Union]] and the [[United Nations]] but argued that the European Union must reform to become more democratic and the United Nations must develop new mechanisms for dealing with humanitarian crises.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/sep/19/speeches.libdems2005 Full text: Sir Menzies Campbell's speech to the Lib Dem conference] Guardian Unlimited, 19 September 2005</ref>

He was critical of what he claimed as the "disproportionate military action" employed by the [[Israeli Defence Force]] in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] and in [[Lebanon]], contending that Israel's tactics exacerbate existing tensions and lead to [[human rights]] abuses.<ref name="End Israel arms export - Lib Dems"/> Though a supporter of [[United Kingdom – United States relations|Anglo-American]] cooperation, Campbell argued that the [[George W. Bush|Bush]]-[[Tony Blair|Blair]] relationship was one-sided and that the Labour government pursued it at the expense of Britain's standing in other international institutions, particularly the EU and UN.

Campbell had stressed the need for the Liberal Democrats to provide extra support for female, disabled and ethnic minority candidates seeking to contest winnable seats.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/jun/08/tax.liberaldemocrats Menzies Campbell's speech on liberal Britain] Guardian Unlimited, 8 June 2006</ref>

In July 2007, Campbell unveiled tax proposals that amounted to a large shift in the tax burden away from low-income and middle-income earners and onto higher-earners and pollution. This was to be implemented by cutting the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 16%, closing £13.5 billion of tax loopholes for high-earners and imposing larger green taxes on polluters. Campbell said of the proposals that "the unacceptable reality is that in Britain today the poorest pay a higher proportion of their income in tax than the super-rich" and that his aim was for "the rich and people with environmentally damaging lifestyles to pay a fairer share".<ref>{{cite news |date=12 July 2007 |title=Lib Dems plan 4p cut in tax rate |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6293958.stm |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

Campbell was a member of the [[Top Level Group|Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation]], established in October 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/08/nuclear-disarmament-cross-party-group|location=London, UK|work=The Guardian|title=Nuclear-free world ultimate aim of new cross-party pressure group|first=Julian|last=Borger|date=8 September 2009|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/08/nuclear-disarmament-cross-party-group|archive-date=30 June 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2018, Campbell spoke at a [[People's Vote]] rally in Edinburgh. People's Vote was a campaign group calling for a public vote on the final [[Brexit]] deal between the UK and the European Union.<ref>{{cite news | last = Staff and agencies | title = People's Vote backers rally in Edinburgh for say in final Brexit deal | url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/18/peoples-vote-backers-rally-in-edinburgh-demanding-say-in-final-brexit-deal | work = [[The Guardian]] {{!}} Edinburgh | date = 18 August 2018 | access-date = 19 August 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180818184235/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/18/peoples-vote-backers-rally-in-edinburgh-demanding-say-in-final-brexit-deal | archive-date = 18 August 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

== Personal life == Campbell married [[Elspeth Campbell|Elspeth, Lady Grant-Suttie]], daughter of Major General [[Roy Urquhart]] and ex-wife of [[Philip Grant-Suttie|Sir Philip Grant-Suttie]], [[Grant-Suttie baronets|8th Baronet]], in June 1970. The couple had no children, but Lady Campbell had a son from her first marriage.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4738646.stm Profile: Elspeth, Lady Campbell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628063220/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4738646.stm|date=28 June 2006}}, BBC News, 2 March 2006.</ref> Lady Campbell died on 5 June 2023, aged 83.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/4451302/elspeth-campbell-lady-campbell-pittenweem-dies/|title=Lady Campbell of Pittenweem - wife of Sir Menzies Campbell - dies aged 83|first=Chloe |last=Burrell|date=5 June 2023|website=The Courier}}</ref>

=== Death and tributes === Campbell died at a care facility in London, on 26 September 2025, at the age of 84.<ref>{{cite news |last=VanReenen |first=Danyel |date=26 September 2025 |title=Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Menzies Campbell dies aged 84 |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/former-liberal-democrat-leader-sir-menzies-campbell-dies-aged-84 |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=[[STV News]] |publisher=[[STV (TV channel)|STV]] |location=Glasgow, Scotland}}</ref><ref name="guardian-obit"/> Following his death, tributes were paid across political and academic communities, with the University of St Andrews lowering its flags to half-mast in his honour.<ref name=":0"/> Liberal Democrat leader Sir [[Ed Davey]] described him as "a true Liberal giant" and praised his "morality, courage and wisdom" in opposing the Iraq War. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader [[Alex Cole-Hamilton]] called him "my MP, my mentor and my friend", adding that "from the Olympic track to Westminster, his contribution will long be remembered." Scottish First Minister [[John Swinney]] described Campbell as "one of the most distinguished and well-liked political figures of his generation".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyst |first=Catherine |date=26 September 2025 |title=Tributes paid to 'Liberal giant' Lord Campbell |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8j7jnjd6ro |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

==Honours== Campbell was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[1987 New Year Honours]];<ref>{{London Gazette |supp=y|issue=50764|page=8|date=31 December 1986}}</ref> he became a [[Privy Counsellor]] in the [[1999 New Year Honours]];<ref>{{London Gazette |supp=y|issue=55354|page=1|date=31 December 1998}}</ref> and he was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2004 New Year Honours]] for services to Parliament,<ref>{{London Gazette |supp=y |issue=57155|page=S1|date=31 December 2003}}</ref> having the honour conferred by [[Charles, Prince of Wales|the Prince of Wales]] on 27 May 2004.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=57391|date=24 August 2004|page=10694}}</ref>

Campbell was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] (CH) in the [[2013 Birthday Honours]] for public and political service.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=60534 |supp=y|page=4|date=15 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206698/Birthday_Honours_List_2013.pdf|title=Birthday Honours List 2013|access-date=14 June 2013|date=14 June 2013|publisher=HM Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210091442/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206698/Birthday_Honours_List_2013.pdf|archive-date=10 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> He was nominated for a [[life peer]]age in the [[2015 Dissolution Honours]] and created '''Baron Campbell of Pittenweem''', of [[Pittenweem]] in the County of Fife, on 13 October 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=notice 2418148|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2418148|website=[[The London Gazette]]|access-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321220051/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2418148|archive-date=21 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Campbell held honorary degrees from the [[University of Glasgow]] and the [[University of Strathclyde]]. He was the only person nominated to succeed Sir [[Kenneth Dover]] after he retired as [[Chancellor of the University of St Andrews]] on 1 January 2006, so took office immediately after nominations closed on 9 January 2006. He was installed as Chancellor on 22 April 2006, at which time he also received the honorary degree of [[Doctor of Laws]].<ref>{{cite web |date=18 April 2006 |title=Sir Menzies Campbell to be installed as Chancellor |url=https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/sir-menzies-campbell-to-be-installed-as-chancellor/ |access-date=26 September 2025 |website=University of St Andrews}}</ref>

In 2010 it was reported that Campbell had been considered for the post of [[List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Australia|High Commissioner to Australia]]; ''[[The Guardian]]'' claimed it had been stalled as it would have triggered a by-election in Campbell's constituency.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nick Clegg's hopes of running the country dashed by prime minister|author=Robert Booth and Allegra Stratton|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/16/nick-clegg-hopes-running-country-dashed|date=16 August 2010|location=London, UK|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307070818/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/16/nick-clegg-hopes-running-country-dashed|archive-date=7 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Wikiquote}} {{Wikisource|works=or}} * {{Official website|http://www.mingcampbell.org.uk}} * [http://www.libdems.org.uk/people/ming-campbell Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP] Liberal Democrats profile * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080821123103/http://scotlibdems.org.uk/people/mps/campbell Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP] Scottish Liberal Democrats profile * {{UK MP links | parliament = sir-menzies-campbell/627 | hansard = mr-menzies-campbell | hansardcurr = 2450 | guardian = 813/menzies-campbell | publicwhip = Menzies_Campbell | theywork = menzies_campbell | record = Menzies-Campbell/North-East-Fife/1084 | bbc = 25795.stm | journalisted= menzies-campbell}} * {{C-SPAN}} * {{World Athletics}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com|walter-menzies-campbell}} * {{IMDb name| 1909030}}

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