Tributes have been paid to the former Conservative minister Michael Ancram, who has died at the age of 79.
The peer passed away in the early hours of Tuesday after a short illness, his family confirmed in a statement.
A stalwart of the Conservative Party, he served in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “I am sorry to hear of the passing of Michael Ancram, who was a first-rate politician and a gentleman.
"The thoughts of all in the Scottish Conservatives are with his wife and family.”
First Minister John Swinney said he was "very sorry" to hear about the ex-minister's death.
"Michael was a courteous and distinguished Parliamentarian. My condolences to his family," he posted on X.
Born in 1945, Lord Ancram was educated at Ampleforth College before reading History at Christ Church, Oxford, and later Law at the University of Edinburgh.
After practising as an advocate at the Scottish Bar, his political journey began at the age of 29 when in 1974 he was first elected to Parliament representing Berwickshire & East Lothian.
Although he lost this seat in the second General Election of 1974 he returned to the Commons in 1979 as the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South, defeating future Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Following defeat in the 1987 General Election, Mr Ancram returned as Member of Parliament for the Constituency of Devizes in the 1992 General Election until he retired from the House of Commons in May 2010.
In November 2010, he joined the House of Lords by virtue of a life peerage, Baron Kerr of Monteviot.
His ministerial career included roles at the Scottish Office and the Northern Ireland Office.
He played a significant role in the formative stages of the Northern Ireland peace process as Minister of State until 1997, and he was the first British Government Minister to sit across a negotiating table with the IRA.
Mr Ancram role served as Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs from 2001 to 2005 under both Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard.
He also became Shadow Secretary of State for International Affairs from 2004 to 2005, and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in 2005. He was also Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1998 until 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Lady Jane Fitzalan-Howard, his two daughters, three grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.
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