Norman Irons

{{Short description|Scottish politician (1941–2023)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}

Norman Macfarlane Irons CBE (4 January 1941 – 26 November 2023) was a Scottish politician who was lord provost of Edinburgh between 1992 and 1996.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/court-circular-1412183.html The Independent, 7 July 1994]

Irons was born on 4 January 1941.{{cite book |title=Irons, Norman Macfarlane |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-21530 |website=WHO'S WHO 2022 | doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U21530 | isbn=978-0-19-954088-4 |access-date=2 November 2022}} He was the first lord provost of the city from the Scottish National Party (SNP). Although Irons was one of only two SNP representatives on the city council at the time, these votes were crucial in maintaining the minority administration of the ruling Labour Party. As such, Labour councillors were his majority backers for the post of lord provost.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

In 2005 he asserted that the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary killed his 89-year-old mother through "basic neglect" and improper care.[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hospital+killed+my+mother.(News)-a0131921487 Scottish Daily Record, 27 April 2005, cited at thefreelibrary.com][https://www.theguardian.com/society/2006/jan/07/health.familyandrelationships The Guardian, 7 January 2006]

Irons served as the honorary consul for Hungary in Edinburgh.[http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/283/community_life_and_leisure/1238/consulates_in_edinburgh/3 Consular Corps in Edinburgh] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112065954/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/283/community_life_and_leisure/1238/consulates_in_edinburgh/3 |date=12 January 2014 }}

Irons was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1995 New Year Honours for services to local government.United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |date=30 December 1994 |supp=1 |issue=53893 |pages=9}}

Irons died on 26 November 2023, at the age of 82.{{cite news |title=Tributes paid as former Edinburgh Lord Provost Norman Irons dies, aged 82 |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/tributes-paid-as-former-edinburgh-lord-provost-norman-irons-dies-aged-82-4425342 |access-date=28 November 2023 |publisher=Edinburgh Evening News |date=28 November 2023}}