Former Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie dies aged 61

The Scottish Conservative Party confirmed the Lothian MSP, who was 61, had died.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "deeply saddened by the news of David's death", adding: "David has been an immense figure in Scottish politics and a towering strength to our party in Scotland. He will be sorely missed.

"When devolution came, he picked up the reins and made sure that the Scottish Conservatives had a strong voice at Holyrood.

"He was one of Scottish politics' most formidable intellects and finest debaters. All he did was carried out with dedication and conviction, and his passing leaves a gap in the lives of all who knew him."

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: "Our heartfelt sympathies are with his family at this desperately sad time."

Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together campaign, said: "David made an immense contribution to Scottish politics throughout his life. He was hugely instrumental in setting up Better Together. He was passionate in his beliefs. I shall miss his wit and humour and his friendship. My thoughts are with Sheila and his family."

Annabel Goldie, who succeeded Mr McLetchie as Scottish Conservative leader in 2005 and led the party to 2011, said: "David was a committed and unflinching Conservative.

"He served the party with diligence, conscience and intelligence.

"In the wider arena of Scottish politics he was forensic in the dissection of opponents and a combative and effective debater.

"But above all else he was a principled man, supportive of colleagues with an engaging dry wit."

The MSP added: "He is a great loss to politics and to the Scottish Parliament. My thoughts are with his wife and family at this sad time."

Mr McLetchie, who was a lawyer before he became an MSP in the first Holyrood elections in 1999, had been suffering from cancer.

His death comes just two months after he received a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Mr McLetchie is survived by his wife Sheila, and his son James, from his first marriage to his late wife Barbara.

Tributes were paid to him from across the political spectrum, including from both First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon .

Mr Salmond said: "David McLetchie was a leading member of the Parliament since 1999 and an extremely effective leader of the Conservative Group in the first Parliament, allowing it to punch politically well above its actual numbers.

"However, I got to know him best when he served as Tory business manager during the period of minority government.

"There his talents excelled, always negotiating hard in his party's interest but also fairly in the interests of the Parliament and effective government - his word was his bond.

"In my estimation, that skilful performance marked David as a very considerable politician of the devolution era and my condolences go to his family and friends."

Ms Sturgeon expressed her "sincere condolences" to Mr McLetchie's family, friends and colleagues.

"David was a fine parliamentarian and a true gentleman," the Deputy First Minister said.

"He was a tough opponent but one who was always willing to find common ground and build consensus.

"He never allowed political disagreements to become personal - it was always easy to share a laugh with David, notwithstanding the cut and thrust of political debate.

"He will be sadly missed by everyone in the Scottish Parliament."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie described Mr McLetchie as a "towering figure in this new Scottish parliamentary age".

He added: "David will forever be regarded as a public servant who made a difference.

"Whether as party leader or foot soldier he commanded immediate respect and trust from friend and foe alike. I will miss his humour and intelligence."

Mr McLetchie had been on the board of Better Together, the cross-party group campaigning for a No vote in next year's independence referendum.

Former Labour chancellor and Better Together chair Alistair Darling joined the tributes to the Tory MSP.

"David made an immense contribution to Scottish politics throughout his life," Mr Darling said.

"He was hugely instrumental in setting up Better Together. He was passionate in his beliefs. I shall miss his wit and humour and his friendship. My thoughts are with Sheila and his family."

Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP said he was "truly sorry to hear the news of David's death".

He added: "Despite having very different politics, and regularly crossing swords on issues such as social housing, I always found David to be a serious debater with a sharp wit and a respect for political differences.

"I believe that view was shared right across the political spectrum, and David's style of debate will be greatly missed at Holyrood. I'd like to offer my condolences to David's friends, colleagues and family."

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont MSP said Mr McLetchie's death would be "a huge loss to the Scottish Parliament".

She added: "For all of us who knew and worked with David, we will remember his passion, drive and determination. Despite his failing health, his commitment to representing his constituents in the Lothians meant that he continued his work in Parliament.

"David was always well liked across the political spectrum. His knowledge, experience, candour and wit were defining features for a man who took his responsibilities seriously, but who did so in a friendly but determined way.

"His leadership during difficult times for the Scottish Conservatives was an opportunity for him to impress in the chamber and his love of golf and Hearts were always topics of passionate conversation for him.

"Our thoughts will be with Sheila, James and the rest of his family and friends. Scotland has lost a committed public servant who has been taken from us far sooner than was right. We will all remember David for the substantial contribution he made to public life in Scotland."

Holyrood presiding officer Tricia Marwick MSP said: "David was clever and funny, with the driest of wit. Brilliant in debate and forensic in committee. His intellect made him one of our most effective parliamentarians. We shall miss him terribly.

"The Scottish Parliament's heartfelt condolences go to Sheila and his family."

As a mark of respect, flags at Holyrood will fly at half-mast until Mr McLetchie's funeral has been held.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore joined in the tributes, saying: "David McLetchie will be sorely missed by those across and outwith the political spectrum

"He was an articulate, clever and engaging man, with a passion for debate and a positive future for Scotland within the United Kingdom.

"My thoughts are with his wife and family."

From the business community Iain McMillan, the director of CBI Scotland, said: "I was very sorry to learn of the death of David McLetchie.

"Over the years, my colleagues and I worked closely with David on matters of public policy and we had a very high regard for him. He was also a very fine man and we will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with David's family at this sad time."

David McLetchie obituary

David McLetchie's involvement in Scottish political life began 45 years ago when, as a teenager, he first became active as young Conservative.

Since then he has gone on to hold several senior positions within the party, including a seven-year stint as leader of the Scottish Tories, before standing down in 2005 amid controversy over his taxi expenses.

More recently, he has fulfilled the role of Conservative chief whip and business manager and, after being returned to Holyrood at the 2011 Scottish elections, he has worked as the party's justice spokesman.

Born in 1952, Mr McLetchie attended Leith Academy and George Heriot's School in Edinburgh before attending Edinburgh University where he gained a law degree, graduating in 1974. He qualified as a solicitor in 1976 and joined Tods Murray WS in Edinburgh, becoming a partner in 1980.

Active in Young Conservatives and Conservative student politics from 1968, he was the party's candidate for Edinburgh Central in the 1979 general election.

Mr McLetchie went on to become vice-president of the Scottish Conservatives in 1992, president two years later, and chairman in 1995.

After the 1997 general election wipe-out which saw the Tories ejected from every Scottish constituency, he took part in a root-and-branch review of the party.

In 1998 he was elected leader of the party's group of Holyrood candidates and led the campaign for the first Scottish Parliament elections the following year, in which the party won 18 list seats.

Mr McLetchie cemented his position in the 2003 Holyrood election, defeating Labour's Iain Gray to win the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency.

During his time as Tory leader, Mr McLetchie hounded then-first minister Henry McLeish mercilessly over the ''Officegate'' affair, which led to the Labour MSP resigning as first minister in 2001.

Mr McLetchie was first to attack Mr McLeish's successor Jack McConnell in the ''Villagate'' controversy over the first minister's family holidays at broadcaster Kirsty Wark's Spanish retreat.

But he came under pressure over his expenses, and it emerged he had billed the taxpayer for a journey to the Tory Party conference in Bournemouth in 2002.

He notified Holyrood officials of errors in his claims in March 2005 and repaid them. But the controversy refused to go away, resulting in his resignation.

He remained in Holyrood as an MSP, winning the Pentlands seat in 2007 with an increased majority. Although he lost this seat in 2011, he stayed at the Scottish Parliament as an MSP for the Lothian region.

The approaching independence referendum saw him work closely with Alistair Darling as a member of the unionist campaign group Better Together.

Away from politics, Mr McLetchie, was married to Sheila, a theatre nurse at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and has a grown-up son James from his first marriage to late wife Barbara, whom he lost to cancer in 1995.

He was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours earlier this year.