Tributes paid following death of former Conservative MSP and Holyrood Presiding Officer Sir Alex Fergusson

TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of former Presiding Officer and Conservative MSP Sir Alex Fergusson at the age of 69.

Party leader Ruth Davidson described him as a “proper gentleman” who will be mourned by all who knew him.

Sir Alex was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, standing down before the last Holyrood elections in 2016.

He served as the Parliament’s third Presiding Officer from 2007 to 2011.

Flags will be lowered today as a mark of respect for, and in memory of, former Presiding Officer Sir Alex Fergusson who died this morning pic.twitter.com/mgDLFmGjDg

— Scottish Parliament (@ScotParl) July 31, 2018

A hill farmer by trade, he was first elected for the South of Scotland region and later became MSP for the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency, re-drawn in 2011 as Galloway and West Dumfries.

He was knighted for services to politics and public life in 2016.

Ms Davidson said: “Alex Fergusson was a proper gentleman. His decency, compassion and wisdom earned him friends across all parties. His passing will be mourned by all who knew him.

“He wasn’t just a major figure in the Scottish Conservatives, he was also, as the Scottish Parliament’s third Presiding Officer, a hugely significant figure at Holyrood and a stout defender of the Parliament. He enjoyed the respect of every MSP in the chamber.”

She added: “On behalf of everyone in the Scottish Conservatives, I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also paid tribute to Sir Alex on Twitter, saying: “I am very sorry to hear of Alex Fergusson’s passing.

“He was a distinguished Presiding Officer of @ScotParl and a dedicated parliamentarian with friends and admirers from across the political spectrum.

“My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.”

Saddened by the death of former Presiding Officer Sir Alex Fergusson. He presided over us with good humour and a fundamental decency that was recognised by Members from every party. pic.twitter.com/Rd2IHDXsq5

— PO Ken Macintosh MSP (@KenMacintoshMSP) July 31, 2018

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “To me, Alex was foremost a great friend and I will miss him dearly.

“He is the most thoroughly decent person I have ever known. He was the absolute opposite of the career politician and was guided a sense of public duty and his core values of family, community and country, rather than party dogma.”

Deputy First Minister John Swinney tweeted: “Deeply saddened at the death of Sir Alex Fergusson. His decency and honesty made him the perfect choice to be Presiding Officer @ScotParl in 2007.

“His sense of fairness made his term in office such a success. I shall always value his personal kindness. My sympathy to his family.”

Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said: “So sorry to learn of the death of Holyrood’s former Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson. Always a decent person, and very fair in the PO’s chair at Parliament. My condolences to his family and friends.”