Lord Irvine of Lairg
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The Right Honourable The Lord Irvine of Lairg PC QC |
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|---|---|
| Lord Chancellor | |
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In office 2 May 1997 – 12 June 2003 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Falconer of Thoroton |
| Shadow Lord Chancellor | |
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In office 18 July 1992 – 2 May 1997 |
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| Leader |
John Smith Margaret Beckett (Acting) Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | The Lord Mishcon |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 June 1940 Inverness, Scotland, UK |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Alison McNair |
| Alma mater |
University of Glasgow Christ's College, Cambridge |
Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg PC QC (born 23 June 1940), known as Derry Irvine, is a Scottish lawyer, judge, and political figure who served as Lord Chancellor under his former pupil barrister, Tony Blair.
Irvine was born in Inverness, Scotland, and educated at the fee-paying private school, Hutchesons Grammar School in Glasgow.
Later Irvine read Scots law at the University of Glasgow and became involved in debating with the Glasgow University Dialectic Society and at the Glasgow University Union, where he befriended contemporary Labourites Donald Dewar and John Smith. After studying English law at Christ's College, Cambridge, he taught law briefly at the London School of Economics and was called to the Bar in 1967. In the late 1960s, Dewar's wife, Alison, left Dewar for Irvine. Irvine later stated that the two men had remained on speaking terms, contrary to reports of a rift. They later served in the same Cabinet. His first marriage ended in divorce, with his ex-wife subsequently moving to Canada.
Irvine joined chambers headed by Morris Finer QC (later as a judge, Sir Morris Finer). In 1970 he contested the Hendon North constituency as a Labour Party candidate. He became a QC in 1978 and head of chambers in 1981, on founding 11 King's Bench Walk Chambers. Among his pupil barristers were Tony Blair and Cherie Booth; at their wedding he dubbed himself "Cupid QC" for having introduced them. In the 1980s he became a Recorder, and then a Deputy High Court Judge.
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