Recording of David Walker, of the Scottish Oral History Centre, in conversation with David McLetchie MSP in 2013. The interview was conducted at David McLetchie's office at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.
This interview was originally intended to be the first of a series of interviews carried out by the Scottish Oral History Centre with the first cohort of MSPs. However, due to David McLetchie's poor health, this interview was undertaken ahead of the planned project. Conducted about two months before his death from cancer at the age of 61, this interview is one of the last interviews which McLetchie gave. Because of time pressures, the interview is approximately 25 mins in length. The larger project with the rest of the cohort of MSPs was never undertaken.
The interview covers McLetchie's entire life, orientated primarily towards his life in politics.
The interview covers the following topics:
- Family background
- School education
- Political involvement at Edinburgh University
- Career in law
- Conservative Party involvement, including Young Conservatives, and party conferences
- Standing for election as an MP in 1979
- Selection process for becoming an MSP in 1999
- Becoming leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in 1999
- Running the Conservative 1999 election campaign for the Scottish Parliament
- Life as a constituency MSP and as a 'list' MSP
- View on 'consensus' politics of the Scottish Parliament
- Press coverage of the Scottish Parliament