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Baron Irvine of Lairg

The Right Honourable
The Lord Irvine of Lairg
PC QC
Lord Chancellor
In office
2 May 1997 – 12 June 2003
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by The Lord Mackay of Clashfern
Succeeded by The Lord Falconer of Thoroton
Shadow Lord Chancellor
In office
18 July 1992 – 2 May 1997
Leader John Smith
Margaret Beckett (Acting)
Tony Blair
Preceded by The Lord Mishcon
Succeeded by The Lord Mackay of Clashfern
Personal details
Born (1940-06-23) 23 June 1940 (age 77)
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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