news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7528017.stm

Acting Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Michael Moore said Lord Russell-Johnston was "one of the giants of Scottish Liberalism in the last quarter century". Giant? Scottish Liberals? Surely an oxymoron?

Hi Lev

First may I say well done on the title of the thread eye-catching. Then the word oxymoron I had to look that one up.

I Googled this person and certainly there are pages and pages of the same story with not much content. I then went way way back on Google and still found nothing.

This probably means he worked hard as an MP, and it seems that contrary to the standards we know many MPs think are acceptable today he has no scandal attached to his name. Maybe that is what the LIB Dems think is so wonderful, it is unusual.

I think he was probably a stand up person who worked hard, not so sure he deserved that epitaph though. Could not find any info on the Barony of Minginish though. Did he inherit it I wonder or have this bestowed on him for work well done.

I noticed his obituary on the BBC Scotland website last night and also that of Bob Crampsey. I have to say that I could think of nothing particular that Russell Johnston had done however I could think of plenty about Bob Crampsey. Now that is probably a reflection of me rather than either of these two gentlemen. However maybe we have to look at Johnston's contribution to Liberal politics rather than his contribution to Scottish politics and from a Liberal's point of view, maybe that was truly great!