Donald Dewar#Death and funeral

File:Glasgow Academy, Hillhead (geograph 6202683).jpg, which at the time, was an all boys independent school in Hillhead. ]]

Donald Campbell Dewar was born on Saturday, 21 August 1937 in Glasgow.Birth certificate of Donald Campbell Dewar, 21 August 1987, Glasgow, Milton 644/10 1094 – National Records of Scotland He grew up in a middle-class{{Cite web |date=2000-10-12 |title=Obituary: Donald Dewar |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/oct/12/guardianobituaries.labour |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} household in Kelvingrove as the only child of Dr. Alasdair Dewar, a consultant dermatologist,{{Cite web |title=TheGlasgowStory: 1950s to The Present Day: Personalities: Donald Dewar |url=https://www.theglasgowstory.com/story/?id=TGSFH03 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=www.theglasgowstory.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029171510/https://www.theglasgowstory.com/story/?id=TGSFH03 |archive-date=2015-10-29}} and Mary Howat Dewar ({{nee}} Bennett).{{Cite web |date=2000-10-11 |title=Donald Dewar: Obituary |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-dewar-obituary-634603.html |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=The Independent |language=en}} Both of Dewar's parents had ill health during his childhood; his father contracted tuberculosis and his mother suffered from a benign brain tumour when he was young.Allan 2000, para. 5

Dewar attended a small school in the Scottish Borders during the Second World War.{{Cite web |author=Guardian Staff |date=2000-10-11 |title=A bookish man always destined for the highest office |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/11/scotlanddevolution.devolution1 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} From the age of nine, he was educated at Mosspark Primary School and then The Glasgow Academy.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-08 |title=Glasgow Academy |url=https://guidetoindependentschools.com/business-directory/glasgow-academy/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Guide to Independent Schools |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Site for Donald Dewar |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12530617.site-for-donald-dewar/ |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=HeraldScotland |date=25 September 2003 |language=en}} He made few friends at school and blamed his "shyness and gauche manner" on his experience as being an only child. A year before his death, Dewar admitted that he had been an "isolated misfit" in his youth, which is a reasoning for his public image of being awkward.

In 1957, Dewar attended the University of Glasgow where his father, mother, two uncles and aunt also attended. He met several future politicians at the university Dialectic Society, including John Smith, who would later become leader of the Labour Party, Sir Menzies Campbell,{{Cite web |date=2017-01-23 |title=Donald Dewar: Scottish Parliament's founding father |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/donald-dewar-scottish-parliaments-founding-father-3097050 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=www.scotsman.com |language=en}} who would later become leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Lord Irvine of Lairg, who would serve as Lord Chancellor. He met Alison McNair at Glasgow University, who he would later marry in 1964.{{Cite web |title=University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Donald Dewar |url=https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH0029&type=P |access-date=2021-07-25 |website=www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk |archive-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725184524/https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH0029&type=P |url-status=dead }}

Dewar was an editor of the Glasgow University Guardian and sales manager for Glasgow University Magazine in 1960. He served as chairman of the University Labour Club from 1961 from 1962 and president of the Glasgow University Union. Dewar was an Honorary Secretary of the Students' Representative Council. In 1962, he campaigned for Albert Luthuli, the banned African National Congress leader, as University Rector.

In 1961, Dewar gained a Master of Arts degree in History and in 1964 a second-class Bachelor of Law degree. After graduating, he worked as a solicitor in Glasgow.

Dewar was a member of the Labour Party, and soon turned his sights towards being elected to parliament. In 1962, he was selected as the Labour candidate for the Aberdeen South constituency. In the 1964 general election, he failed to win the seat, but won it at the 1966 general election at the age of 28 defeating Priscilla Tweedsmuir by 1,799 votes.Chambers Biographical Dictionary, 2007

In his maiden speech to the House of Commons on 4 May 1966,{{cite web | url=https://www.ukpol.co.uk/donald-dewar-1966-maiden-speech-in-the-house-of-commons/ | title=Donald Dewar – 1966 Maiden Speech in the House of Commons – UKPOL.CO.UK | date=26 November 2015 }} Dewar spoke against a proposed increase on potato tax. His speech became his first political success: as the tax was repealed the following year. Dewar was made a member of the public accounts committee and in October 1967, he was appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the President of the Board of Trade, Anthony Crosland.{{Cite web |date=1999-10-01 |title=The Rt Hon Donald Dewar MA LLB MP MSP |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/donald-dewar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001201243/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/biographies/g-ann.htm |archive-date=1 October 1999 |access-date=16 March 2023 |website=Scottish Parliament}}

Dewar remained in that position at the Department of Education until 1969, in which year he opposed a visit to Aberdeen by the Springbok rugby team and staged a silent vigil near the team's ground. In April 1968, he was proposed for a Minister of State position by Roy Jenkins, but was not appointed. Dewar lost his constituency seat to the Conservative candidate Iain Sproat at the 1970 general election by over 1,000 votes.

Dewar spent much of the 1970s looking for another parliamentary seat. He hosted a Friday evening talk show on Radio Clyde, and in June 1971 was beaten by Dennis Canavan when he applied for the seat of West Stirlingshire. He worked as a solicitor for much of that decade and became a reporter on children's panels and was involved with the Lanarkshire local authority. Dewar became a partner in Ross Harper Murphy, in 1975.

Donald Dewar was selected for the seat of Glasgow Garscadden by a majority of three, after Dewar's friend in the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, MP Willie Small, died unexpectedly. He was returned to parliament at a by-election on 13 April 1978, a crucial victory which was seen as halting the rise of the Scottish National Party.

In Scotland's first referendum on devolution, held in March 1979, he campaigned for a "Yes" vote alongside the Conservative Alick Buchanan-Smith and the Liberal Russell Johnston. Though they won a narrow majority, it fell short of the 40% required, contributing to the downfall of the Callaghan Government, in May 1979.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Dewar gained a parliamentary platform as chairman of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. After a year honing his inquisitorial skills, he joined the front bench in November 1980 as a Scottish affairs spokesman when Michael Foot became party leader. In 1981, as the Labour Party divided itself further due to internal disagreement, Dewar was almost deselected in his constituency by hard left activists, but he successfully defended himself against this threat.

He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming Shadow Scottish Secretary in November 1983. On 21 December 1988, Dewar was in Lockerbie after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103,The Scottish Government, 1998 as the member of the Shadow Cabinet in charge of Scottish affairs. In 1992, John Smith made him Shadow Social security Secretary and three years later, Dewar was made a Chief Whip for the Labour Party by Tony Blair.

At the 1997 general election, he became MP for Glasgow Anniesland, which was mostly the same constituency with minor boundary changes. Labour won this election by a landslide, and Dewar was given the post of Secretary of State for Scotland. He was able to start the devolution process he dreamt of years earlier, and worked on creating the Scotland Act, popularly referred to as "Smith's unfinished business". When ratified, this was to give Scotland its first Parliament for nearly 300 years.

In January 1998, he confirmed that he would stand for a seat in the Scottish Parliament.{{cite news |date=8 January 2008 |title=Dewar to stand for Scottish parliament |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/45789.stm |url-status=live |access-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030409214033/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/45789.stm |archive-date=9 April 2003}} The first elections to the Scottish Parliament were held on 6 May 1999, with Dewar leading the Scottish Labour Party against their main opponents, the Scottish National Party led by Alex Salmond. He was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Anniesland, having the unusual distinction of being both an MP and MSP for the same constituency.

File:Donald Dewar First Minister.jpg

On 13 May 1999, Dewar was elected by the Scottish Parliament for the nominee for First Minister of Scotland, after receiving 71 votes by MSPs.{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK Politics {{!}} Dewar wins top job |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/342318.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}} On 17 May, he received the Royal Warrant of Appointment by Her Majesty the Queen at Holyroodhouse and was officially sworn in at the Court of Session.{{Cite web |title=University of Glasgow :: World Changing:: First Minister of Scotland 1999-2000 |url=https://www.worldchanging.glasgow.ac.uk/article/?id=42 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=www.worldchanging.glasgow.ac.uk |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172412/https://www.worldchanging.glasgow.ac.uk/article/?id=42 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK Politics {{!}} Dewar appointed as first minister |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/345189.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

{{blockquote|There shall be a Scottish parliament.' Through long years, those words were first a hope, then a belief, then a promise. Now they are a reality.|Dewar, at the official opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999.Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations}}

{{main|Dewar government}}

Although Scottish Labour won more seats than any other party, they did not have a majority in Parliament to allow them to form an Executive without the help of a smaller party. A deal was agreed with the Scottish Liberal Democrats to form a coalition, with Dewar agreeing to their demand for the abolition of up front tuition fees for university students.The Guardian, 1999

On 13 May 1999, Dewar was nominated as first minister, and was officially appointed by the Queen on 17 May at a ceremony in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He later travelled to the Court of Session to be sworn in by the lord president and receive the Great Seal of Scotland.BBC News, 1999a

Dewar made his initial appointments to the first Scottish cabinet in over 300 years in May 1999. Before the formal announcement of his cabinet appointments, Dewar said that he was "confident" that he had "chosen a strong team who will serve Scotland well".{{cite web |title=DONALD DEWAR ANNOUNCES FIRST CABINET - AND DEPUTY MINISTERS |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/archive/donald-dewar-announces-first-cabinet-and-deputy-ministers-19-05-1999/ |website=Local Government Chronicle (LGC) |access-date=5 November 2024 |language=en |date=19 May 1999}}

File:Meeting of the Dewar cabinet 1999.jpg

Dewar decided to re–organise most of the former portfolios of the preceding Scottish Office, the department of the UK Government responsible for Scotland prior to the establishment of the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament. The only exception to this was the creation of a new ministerial post for justice and the introduction of new ministerial posts for children and education, social inclusion, local government and housing, a minister to be responsible for rural affairs and the first Scottish finance minister who would be directly responsible for the budget of the Scottish Parliament.

Ahead of announcing his cabinet, Dewar advocated that he had created his team in order to ensure the Scottish Labour and Scottish Liberal Democrat coalition would be an effective administration for Scotland.{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK Politics {{!}} Who's who in the Scottish Cabinet |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/346326.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}} Some of the key appointments to Dewar's cabinet included Jim Wallace as the deputy first minister and Minister for Justice, Henry McLeish was appointed as the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Sam Galbraith who was appointed as the Minister for Health.

As first minister, Dewar was also responsible for the appointment of the two highest law officers of Scotland. Both Lord Hardie and Colin Boyd continued in their respective roles as Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland following their initial appointments in 1997. Less than 24 hours after announcing his cabinet, Dewar announced the eleven junior ministers of his cabinet.{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK Politics {{!}} 'Second 11' revealed by Dewar |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/347061.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}}

File:Alexander Falconer, Kenneth D. Collins, David Martin, Donald Dewar, Bill Miller, Hugh R. McMahon and Alex Smith in Strasbourg 01.jpg, February 1999]]

Ahead of forming the coalition with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Dewar was urged not to succumb to pressure to scrap tuition fees in Scotland, mostly by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and education secretary David Blunkett of the UK Government. The Scottish Liberal Democrats claimed that any agreement to form a coalition administration with the Scottish Labour Party would require a commitment for tuition fees to be scrapped, and that the party would "not compromise" on the issue.{{cite web |last1=Seenan |first1=Gerard |last2=MacAskill |first2=Ewen |last3=Carvel |first3=John |last4=Seenan |first4=Gerard |title=Fees headache for Dewar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/may/10/scotlanddevolution.devolution |website=The Guardian |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=10 May 1999}}

On 16 June, Dewar set out the legislative programme for the Executive which included: an Education bill to improve standards in Scottish schools; land reform to give right of access to the countryside, a bill to abolish the feudal system of land tenure; and a bill to establish national parks in Scotland.BBC News, 1999b

On 23 March 2000, Dewar presided over the launch of a consultation paper by his Minister for Justice, Jim Wallace, on stalking and harassment in Scotland. The Scottish Executive intended for the consultation paper to be used as an exercise to consult with the public to determine whether existing Scots law was sufficient to protect victims of stalking and harassment or whether to determine that new laws should be introduced. Wallace claimed that the "Scottish Executive was well aware of the devastating consequences stalking can have".{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} Stalking law inquiry begins |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/687316.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}}

In May 2000, a report indicated that 400,000 Scots were unable to source employment as a result of poor adult literacy rates, with the estimated total being roughly one million adults deemed as "functionally illiterate". In response, Henry McLeish, the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in the Dewar government confirmed that "efforts would be made to gather exact statistics to tackle the issue". Dewar and the government were criticised due to there being a considerable lack of opportunities and programmes available to provide basic adult education similar to programmes that had already been established in England and in Wales.{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Kirsty |title=Scotland faces problem of 1m illiterate adults |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/may/16/education.educationnews |website=The Guardian |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=16 May 2000}}

=== Social justice and poverty ===

File:Donald Dewar.jpg

During his tenure as first minister, Dewar claiming that tackling poverty was the main agenda for the Scottish Executive. To reduce the level of poverty in Scotland, Dewar vowed that Scottish Executive policy would largely follow the policy agenda as set by the UK Government, claiming that the "exchange of ideas with Westminster is vital" but claimed that "we must never be afraid to take a different path when that is in Scotland's interest". Dewar supported an increase in spending available from the UK Government to be used by the Scottish Executive and had indicated that additional funds could be used to progress the executive's work on tackling poverty.{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} Dewar sets out his course |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/880013.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}}

Under Dewar, the Scottish Executive also spearheaded policy relating to social justice, including deprivation and disadvantage. Dewar stated that the executive was committed to tackling the core root of the issues to be "sure that all our children have the best start in life" whilst also advocating the role education and employment plays in social justice.

=== Education and employment ===

During his time in office, Dewar presided over record levels of employment in Scotland and advocated that this was in part the responsibility of his executives agenda and policies. Dewar claimed that the introduction of quality child-care, the national minimum income guarantee for pensioners and the establishment of the "New Deal" had "laid the foundations" for an increase in employment in the country. Additionally, Dewar was hopeful that strong numbers of 18 year olds in full time education would continue to increase under his premiership, stating that he wanted to "skill the workforce, not only to make the Scottish economy truly competitive but to provide opportunities for the individual".

===Absence for surgery===

Around April 2000, Dewar temporarily stepped back from his duties as first minister to allow him to undergo heart surgery. For a period of four months, he was succeeded by his deputy first minister Jim Wallace as Acting first minister.{{cite web |title=Remembering Donald Dewar - a decade on |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11455257 |website=BBC News |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=3 October 2010}} Following his surgery, Dewar publicly thanked NHS Scotland for their "care and commitment" in which he claimed "did so much for me over this period".

Upon resuming his post of first minister in August 2000, Dewar praised Wallace's tenure as acting first minister, acknowledging his "distinction, style and energy" and praised his "success at question time is only the most visible aspect of a job well done". Additionally, Dewar issued a public message of thanks to both the Scottish Parliament and cabinet colleagues for messages following his surgery. Upon resuming his government duties, Dewar was said to be "in fine form" with Dewar claiming he was "looking forward to working with colleagues to drive forward the Executive's agenda".{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} Dewar sets out his course |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/880013.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}}

File:Opening of the Scottish Parliament, 1999.jpg alongside Queen Elizabeth II and Presiding Officer David Steel, 1999]]

One of the first scandals to hit the new Scottish Parliament occurred when allegations that the lobbying arm of public relations company Beattie Media had privileged access to ministers were published, prompting Dewar to ask the standards committee to investigate the reports.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/458002.stm "Probe launched into lobbying allegations"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222115148/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/458002.stm|date=22 December 2007}}, BBC News The minister for finance, Jack McConnell, was called to appear before the standards committee during the investigation although he was later cleared of any wrongdoing and the committee declared there was no evidence he had been influenced from lobbying by Beattie Media.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/492536.stm "Scotland Standards watchdog clears McConnell"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031215052412/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/492536.stm|date=15 December 2003}} BBC News

Dewar also threatened to sack any minister or aide who briefed the media against another member of the Scottish Executive, following public rows between Jack McConnell and Health Minister Susan Deacon over the budget allocated to health .[http://www.cipfa.org.uk/publicfinance/search_details.cfm?News_id=5659&keysearch=McConnell Public Finance- 14 July 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007215718/http://www.cipfa.org.uk/publicfinance/search_details.cfm?News_id=5659&keysearch=McConnell|date=7 October 2007}}

{{Main articles|2000 SQA examinations controversy}}

The introduction in Scotland of the reformed examinations system in 2000 was criticised in the press and by the Government after a series of administrative and computer errors led to several thousand incorrect Higher and Intermediate certificates being sent out by post. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Dewar stated he "greatly regrets" the errors made by the SQA but assured the parliament that he was aware that "many people are working hard to put matters right". Dewar announced that independent consultants had been drafted in by the Scottish Executive to investigate the issue.{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} Dewar sets out his course |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/880013.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}}

The crisis took several months to resolve, and several management figures including the Chief Executive, Ron Tuck, resigned or lost their jobs as a result.{{cite web |last1=Millar |first1=Stuart |title=Exams head quits as crisis deepens |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/13/education.educationnews |website=The Observer |access-date=5 November 2024 |date=13 August 2000}}

On 15 August 2000, it was announced that several senior officials with the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) would be facing disciplinary action as a result of the error. BBC News suggested that Chief Executive Ron Tuck and the Minister for Education Sam Galbraith were "kept in the dark" about the problems. It had been announced that concerns were raised months prior to the error being made that exam results would not be ready when expected but assurances continued to be provided that results would be issued on time and when expected. Bill Morton became the new Chief Executive of the SQA, the organisations third in only five days, and upon his appointment said that the reassessing of exam results was his priority and that of the SQA.{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} SQA chiefs face disciplinary action |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/881115.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=5 November 2024}}

Dewar was an atheist{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jun/01/backtothedarkages|title=Back to the dark ages|last=Luckhurst|first=Tim|work=The Guardian|date=1 June 2007|accessdate=28 February 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://humanists.uk/2024/07/05/non-religious-prime-ministers-a-history/|title=Non-religious Prime Ministers: a history|date=5 July 2024|accessdate=28 February 2025|work=Humanists UK}} who while "sceptical of religion"{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13643771.alex-salmond-recalls-great-donald-dewar-in-faith-message|title=Alex Salmond recalls great Donald Dewar in faith message|work=Glasgow Times|accessdate=28 February 2025|date= 3 September 2015}} treated religious beliefs with "bemused tolerance" and "gracious respect".{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/scotland/2000/donald_dewar/976706.stm|title=Rev Douglas Alexander's introduction|work=BBC News|accessdate=28 February 2025|date=17 October 2000}} His political style in relation to religion was characterised as one of "quiet, non-interfering, practical secularism"; his political rival Alex Salmond credits this with enabling the "Time for Reflection" system at Holyrood, implemented as an alternative to the Westminster parliamentary prayers model.{{cite web|url=https://heritage.humanists.uk/article/time-for-reflection/|title=Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament|last=Higgins|first=Joe|work=Humanist Heritage|publisher=Humanists UK|accessdate=28 February 2025}}

On 20 July 1964, Dewar married Alison Mary McNair, with whom he had two children: a daughter, Marion, and a son, Ian. In 1972, McNair separated from Dewar and entered a relationship with the then Derry Irvine, a prominent Scottish barrister in London. Dewar and his wife divorced in 1973, and he never remarried.{{Cite web|last=Guerre|first=Mémoires de|title=Donald Dewar: Obituary - Memoires de guerre|url=http://www.memoiresdeguerre.com/2000/10/donald-dewar-obituary.html|access-date=2021-10-02|website=Mémoires de Guerre|language=fr|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002022152/https://www.memoiresdeguerre.com/2000/10/donald-dewar-obituary.html|url-status=dead}} Dewar and Lord Irvine of Lairg never reconciled, even though they later served in the same Cabinet from May 1997 until 1999.

In September 2009, Dennis Canavan said Dewar reacted callously when Canavan's son was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1989. The disease eventually killed him. Canavan said Dewar remarked, "Oh no! That's all we need. He was mad enough before but I shudder to think what he'll be like now."{{Cite web |last=Allan |first=Charlie |date=12 October 2000 |title=A man apart, yet a man of the people |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23820401.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307161500/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23820401.html |archive-date=7 March 2016 |website=The Herald.}}

Dewar amassed a personal fortune in excess of £2,000,000 including public utility shares, antiques and artwork with a value of over £400,000.{{cite news|last=Womersley|first=Tara|date=2 July 2001|title=£2m legacy of Dewar, the canniest of Scots|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1332575/2m-legacy-of-Dewar-the-canniest-of-Scots.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323001617/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1332575/2m-legacy-of-Dewar-the-canniest-of-Scots.html|archive-date=23 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}<

File:Henry Mcleish.jpg, Henry McLeish on 27 October 2000 following Dewar's death]]

In early 2000, Dewar was admitted to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary after tests at Stobhill Hospital highlighted "minor irregularity" in his heart.{{Cite web |date=2000-10-11 |title=Donald Dewar's year of ill health |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/11/scotlanddevolution.devolution |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} In Depth {{!}} Donald Dewar {{!}} Dewar undergoes heart tests |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/725576.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}} In May 2000, tests revealed he had a faulty aortic valve and he underwent a four-hour heart operation to repair a leaking heart valve.{{Cite news |title=Dewar to have heart surgery |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dewar-to-have-heart-surgery-1.268464 |access-date=2022-05-01 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} His personal spokesperson, David Whitton, stated "he is as concerned about his health as anyone else would be". Although Dewar was not going under surgery, considerations over whether to cancel foreign trips to Japan were under close watch.{{Cite web |date=2000-10-11 |title=Donald Dewar's year of ill health |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/11/scotlanddevolution.devolution |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

Dewar was forced to take a three-month break and Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace took over as acting first minister.{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} Dewar takes post-op steps |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/744733.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}} After returning to office, Dewar was described as being "visibly tired" and fears for his health at this stage were officially dismissed following a First Minister's Question Time.{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} Timeline: Donald Dewar's death |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/967544.stm |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Richard |date=2020-10-11 |title=Donald Dewar died 20 years ago today but his vision of social justice lives on |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/donald-dewar-died-20-years-22822304 |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} In Depth {{!}} Donald Dewar {{!}} First Minister returns to the fray |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/scotland/2000/donald_dewar/879123.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

Dewar dealt with the 2000 exam results controversy and the lorry drivers' strike, and attended the Labour Party conference in Brighton, but on 29 September 2000{{cite web | url=https://www.celticcountries.com/politics/34-scottish-first-ministers-address-at-the-trinity-college-29092000 | title=Scottish First Minister's address at the Trinity College, 29/09/2000 | date=22 October 2007 }} he told the historian Tom Devine in Dublin that if he did not feel any better, he would have to reappraise the situation in a few months' time.[http://www.electricscotland.com/history/donald_dewar.htm "Donald Dewar"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513102041/http://www.electricscotland.com/history/donald_dewar.htm|date=13 May 2012}}, Electronic Scotland, October 2000

On 10 October 2000, Dewar sustained a seemingly harmless fall outside his official residence at Bute House following a meeting of the Scottish Cabinet.{{Cite web |date=2000-10-10 |title=Donald Dewar critically ill after fall on pavement |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-dewar-critically-ill-after-fall-on-pavement-634608.html |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}} He seemed fine at first, but later that day suffered a massive brain haemorrhage which was possibly triggered by the anticoagulant medication he was taking following his heart surgery. At 7pm, five hours after his fall, Dewar was admitted to the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh after his condition rapidly deteriorated. By 9pm, he was put on a life-support machine in the hospital's intensive care unit.{{Cite web |title=Dewar fights for his life |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12153856.dewar-fights-for-his-life/ |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=HeraldScotland |date=11 October 2000 |language=en}} Dewar's condition worsened and he failed to regain consciousness. On 11 October at 12:18pm, after his children gave permission for his life support to be switched off, Dewar was officially pronounced dead, aged 63.{{Cite news |title=Donald Dewar dies in hospital, aged 63 |language=en |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/donald-dewar-dies-in-hospital-aged-63-n3mt97frtlb |access-date=2022-05-01 |issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite news |date=2010-10-03 |title=Remembering Donald Dewar - a decade on |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-11455257 |access-date=2022-05-01}}

Dewar's funeral service was held at Glasgow Cathedral, he was cremated on 18 October 2000 and his ashes were scattered at Lochgilphead in Argyll.{{Cite web |date=2000-10-13 |title=Dewar to have cathedral funeral |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/oct/13/scotland.labour |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2000-10-19 |title=Laughter and tears for Donald Dewar |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/19/uk.scotlanddevolution |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

• The Duke of Rothesay{{Cite web |date=2000-10-19 |title=Laughter and tears for Donald Dewar |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/19/uk.scotlanddevolution |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

• Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Cherie Blair
• Jim Wallace, Acting First Minister of Scotland{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} In Depth {{!}} Donald Dewar {{!}} A nation says goodbye |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/scotland/2000/donald_dewar/977529.stm |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}
• Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister)
• David Trimble, First Minister of Northern Ireland

• Members of the Scottish Executive Cabinet, including;
• Wendy Alexander, Minister for Communities
• Henry McLeish, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
• Members of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, including;
• Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sarah Brown
• Jack Straw, Home Secretary
• John Swinney, Leader of the Scottish National Party
• Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
• Neil Kinnock, Former Leader of the Labour Party
• Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrats Member of Parliament
• James Douglas-Hamilton, Conservative Member of Parliament

• Ruth Wishart, Broadcaster and friend
• Lord Robertson, Secretary General of NATO
• Alastair Campbell, Downing Street Press Secretary
• Lord Hardie, Senator of the College of Justice
• John Monks, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Dewar's death came as a shock to Scotland. UK Foreign Secretary described his death as "a tragedy for Donald and a tragedy for Scotland." Henry McLeish said: "this is a day of enormous sadness for Scotland and for me personally. Donald was devolution. The architect of the most successful constitutional change this century."{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} In Depth {{!}} Donald Dewar {{!}} Tributes flood in |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/967258.stm |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

"Although he has become something of a political legend, Donald would have abhorred any attempt to turn him into some kind of secular saint. He would have been horrified at a Diana-style out-pouring of synthetic grief at his untimely death." — Iain Macwhirter, Sunday Herald, 15 October 2000.

Dewar was succeeded by Henry McLeish as First Minister.{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} SCOTLAND {{!}} McLeish wins first minister title |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/991398.stm |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

File:Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumDSCF0239 01.JPG, Glasgow|264x264px]]Dewar's commitment to re-establishing the Scottish Parliament and his tireless work on the Scotland Act 1998 has led to his epithet the "Father of the Nation" and the "Father of Devolution".{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3727308.stm|title=Donald Dewar, Father of a Nation? |first=Andrew |last=McFadyen |work=BBC News |date=8 October 2004 |access-date=12 April 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Alex |first1=Michael |last2=er |title=Legacy of Donald Dewar, 'the father of devolution' remembered on 20th anniversary of death |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/1629004/sharp-intelligent-with-a-lot-of-political-skill-scotlands-first-first-minister-donald-dewar-remembered-on-20th-anniversary-of-death/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=The Courier |date=10 October 2020 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|date=4 October 2019|title=Profile: Donald Dewar the architect of the Scottish Parliament |first=Jenni |last=Davidson |url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,profile-donald-dewar-the-architect-of-the-scottish-parliament_12103.htm|access-date=11 April 2023|work=Holyrood Website|language=en}}{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/966880.stm | work=BBC News | title='Father of nation' dies | date=11 October 2000 | access-date=29 March 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217180818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/966880.stm | archive-date=17 December 2006 | df=dmy-all }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics-made-good-on-the-unfinished-business-of-devolution-634618.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=The Father of the Nation, who made good on the unfinished business of devolution | first=Andrew | last=Grice | date=12 October 2000 | access-date=29 March 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917082516/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-father-of-the-nation-who-made-good-on-the-unfinished-business-of-devolution-634618.html | archive-date=17 September 2009 | df=dmy-all }} His advocacy for Scottish devolution began in the 1960s, at a time when devolution was fairly unpopular among Labour politicians. However, he persevered to gain support from all parties.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-12 |title=The Legacy of Donald Dewar and Scotland's Stories: Past, Present and Future |url=https://gerryhassan.com/blog/the-legacy-of-donald-dewar-and-scotlands-stories-past-present-and-future/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=Gerry Hassan - writing, research, policy and ideas |language=en-US}}

Although Dewar did not associate with Scottish nationalism or support attempts for independence, he was a "great unionist" and saw the new Parliament as a "journey not a destination", which left many Labour supporters questioning devolution.{{Cite web |title=Not forgotten: A look at Donald Dewar's legacy, 20 years on from his untimely death. |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-angus-and-the-mearns-edition/20201010/281483573849146 |access-date=2022-09-19 |via=PressReader}} His leadership prioritised semi-proportional representation for Scottish parliamentary elections. At the time, many thought this, and devolution, would "end the Scottish National Party's success". However, in the late-2000s Labour's popularity plummeted in Scotland while the SNP's popularity grew rapidly. File:Donald Dewar Statue, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.jpg, and other Scottish politicians.BBC News 2002|212x212px]]Dewar received nicknames such as "Donald Dour" for his stiff, matter-of-fact tone and "The Gannet" due to his large appetite.{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} UK {{!}} UK Politics {{!}} Dewar reaches the top |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/337520.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

In May 2002, then Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled a statue of Dewar at the top of Glasgow's Buchanan Street. In keeping with his famously unkempt appearance, it showed Dewar wearing a slightly crumpled jacket.{{Cite news |date=2002-05-07 |title=Blair unveils Dewar memorial |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1971243.stm |access-date=2022-09-20}}

The statue was taken down in October 2005 to be cleaned, and was re-erected on a {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=on}} high plinth in December to protect it from vandalism. On the base of the statue was inscribed the opening words of the Scotland Act: "There Shall Be A Scottish Parliament", a phrase to which Dewar himself famously said, "I like that!"

Dewar called the Old Royal High School on Calton Hill in Edinburgh a "nationalist shibboleth", mainly because it had been the proposed site of the Scottish Assembly in the 1979 referendum. Dewar's opposition to the Calton Hill site partly contributed to the selection of the Holyrood site, which proved expensive.

The First ScotRail Class 334 train 334001 was named Donald Dewar in his memory. The "Dewar Arts Award" was created by the Scottish Executive in 2002 dedicated to his memory. This award supports talented young Scottish artists.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dewarawards.org/about|title=The Dewar Awards|website=Dewar Awards|access-date=25 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624200409/http://www.dewarawards.org/about|archive-date=24 June 2016}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/herald-the-glasgow-uk/mi_8039/is_20090803/dewar-savaged-hypocritical-petty-canavan/ai_n46760170/ |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |title=Dewar savaged as 'hypocritical and petty' in Canavan book |first=Paul |last=Hutcheon |date=3 August 2009 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{Citation|last=Torrance|first=David|title=The Scottish Secretaries|publisher=Birlinn|year=2006}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/1998/12/1720274b-e2eb-46f2-89fd-2207859e15e6 |date=22 December 1998 | title=Lockerbie Bombing: 10th Anniversary |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |location=Edinburgh}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://vahdatlaw.com/ |date=21 December 1999 |title=Lawyer in Irvine |publisher=Usman |location=Irvine |access-date=3 July 2016 |archive-date=6 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706233823/http://vahdatlaw.com/ |url-status=dead }}
• {{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Scotland/Story/0,,205580,00.html |title=PR deal will end councils stranglehold |work=The Guardian |first1=Ewen|last1=MacAskill |first2=Gerard |last2=Seenan |date=14 May 1999 |location=London}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/345189.stm |title=UK Politics – Dewar appointed as first minister |work=BBC News |date=17 May 1999|id=a}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/370524.stm |title=Dewar's statement to Parliament|work=BBC News|date=16 June 1999|id=b}}

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