He was MP for Orkney & Shetland (1983-2001), and MSP for Orkney (1999-2007). As Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader, Jim was Deputy First Minister of Scotland 1999-2005, and served as Justice Minister (1999-2003) and Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning (2003-2005). He piloted the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 through the Scottish Parliament.
Created a Life Peer in 2007, Jim was Advocate General for Scotland from 2010 to 2015. He led the Lib Dem Peers from 2013 to 2016 and continues to sit in the House of Lords.
He sings in the St Magnus Cathedral Choir and was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2021-22.
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