Political heavyweights pay tribute to Bruce Millan

Tuesday 5 March 2013

The biggest names from Scottish Labour joined mourners at a memorial service for much-loved politician Bruce Millan.

LAST RESPECTS: Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont at the funeral of Bruce Millan. Also attending the service were George Robertson, Brian Wilson, Alistair Darling, Denis Canavan and Jim Murphy.

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Former PM Gordon Brown, his one-time Chancellor Alistair Darling and current Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont were among 150 people who attended a service following Mr Millan's funeral in Glasgow.

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Margaret Curran, also attended, with many Labour MSPs and MPs – including Jim Murphy, Ian Davidson and Brian Wilson.

Speeches at Govan Old Parish Church, Glasgow, were given by both Ms Lamont and family friend Charles Currie, who described Bruce as a "second father". The service was held by Church of Scotland minister Rev Norman Shanks, after a private cremation at Craigton Crematorium. Mr Millan died on February 21 at the age of 85. He had recently been diagnosed with cancer. The Labour politician, who is survived by his wife, son and daughter, was born in Dundee and served as an MP in Glasgow for 29 years. He was first elected to represent Glasgow Craigton in 1959 and served in both the Wilson and Callaghan governments. After the Glasgow Craigton seat was abolished, he represented Glasgow Govan at Westminster. The SNP's Jim Sillars took the seat in the by-election that followed his departure in 1988, and Mr Millan then took up the role of European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Cohesion. He also chaired the Millan Committee looking at reforms to mental health care in Scotland. Ms Lamont said: "It's a great privilege and an honour to be asked to say something about Bruce Millan's role in Scottish politics, in Labour politics and serving the people of Scotland." She said he was "a man who served Scotland through very turbulent times whom I believe history will look far more kindly on than his political opponents did at that time."

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Political heavyweights pay tribute to Bruce Millan

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