Bruce Millan

Bruce Millan HonFRSE[1] (5 October 1927 – 21 February 2013) was a British Labour politician who served as a European Commissioner from 1989 to 1995.

The Right Honourable Bruce Millan HonFRSE
Millan in 1992
European Commissioner for Regional Policy
In office 6 January 1989 – 23 January 1995
President	Jacques Delors
Preceded by	Grigoris Varfis
Succeeded by	Monika Wulf-Mathies
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 4 May 1979 – 31 October 1983
Leader	James Callaghan Michael Foot
Preceded by	Teddy Taylor
Succeeded by	Donald Dewar
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 8 April 1976 – 4 May 1979
Prime Minister	James Callaghan
Preceded by	Willie Ross
Succeeded by	George Younger
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Govan
In office 9 June 1983 – 18 October 1988
Preceded by	Andrew McMahon
Succeeded by	Jim Sillars
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Craigton
In office 8 October 1959 – 9 June 1983
Preceded by	Jack Browne
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1927-10-05)5 October 1927 Dundee, Scotland
Died	21 February 2013(2013-02-21) (aged 85) Glasgow, Scotland
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Gwen Fairey
Children	2
Education	Harris Academy
Profession	Accountancy

Early life

He was born in Dundee and educated at the Harris Academy in that city.[2]

Parliamentary career

Millan unsuccessfully contested West Renfrewshire in the 1951 general election and Glasgow Craigton in that of 1955.

He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Craigton at the 1959 general election and served for that seat, and after its abolition in 1983 for Glasgow Govan, until 1988.[3] He served in the Wilson government of 1964–1970 as Under-Secretary of State for the Air Force from 1964 to 1966, as Under-Secretary of State for Scotland from 1966 to 1970, and in the Callaghan government of 1976–1979 as Secretary of State for Scotland;[4][5] he subsequently served as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland under new leader Michael Foot.

After Parliament

Millan left Parliament in 1988, by applying for the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to take up the post of European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Cohesion, which he held until 1995.[4] The vacancy he left was filled by Jim Sillars of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the notable Glasgow Govan by-election of 1988.[6]

In 1991, Millan received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University.[7]

Between 1999 and 2001 he chaired the Millan Committee, which proposed reforms to the provision of mental health care in Scotland.[4][6][8]

References

1. "Rt Hon Bruce Millan PC HonFRSE". Rse.org.uk. Royal Society of Edinburgh. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
2. "Bruce Millan". The Daily Telegraph. London. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
3. Wilson, Brian (25 February 2013). "Bruce Millan obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
4. "Former Scottish Secretary Bruce Millan dies aged 85". BBC News. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
5. Beckett, J.V.; Ken Brand (1998). Nottingham: An Illustrated History. Manchester University Press. p. 47. ISBN 0719051754.
6. Gordon, Tom (23 February 2013). "Bruce Millan, former Scottish Secretary, dies at 85". The Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
7. "Edinburgh: Honorary Graduates". Hw.ac.uk. Heriot-Watt University. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
8. Keating, Michael (2007). Scottish Social Democracy: Progressive Ideas for Public Policy. Peter Lang. p. 91. ISBN 9052010668.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Bruce Millan
• Portraits of Bruce Millan at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Jack Browne	Member of Parliament for Glasgow Craigton 1959–1983	Constituency abolished
Preceded by Andrew McMahon	Member of Parliament for Glasgow Govan 1983–1988	Succeeded by Jim Sillars
Political offices
Preceded by William Ross	Secretary of State for Scotland 1976–1979	Succeeded by George Younger
Preceded by Stanley Clinton-Davis	British European Commissioner 1989–1994 Served alongside: Leon Brittan	Succeeded by Neil Kinnock
Preceded by The Lord Cockfield		Succeeded by Leon Brittan
Preceded by Grigoris Varfis	European Commissioner for Regional Policy 1989–1994	Succeeded by Monika Wulf-Mathies