Jim Wallace’s trademark smile reflected a political life defined by integrity, openness to others and a deep commitment to building a better Scotland, says Sam Ghibaldan

There can only have been one politician who has got up on stage and sung 500 Miles at the United Nations. Jim Wallace bellowed it out after Kofi Annan had delivered the institution’s inaugural Burns Memorial lecture in 2004. It was the enthusiastic, just plain fun side of Scotland’s first Deputy First Minister that belied his mild public persona but was so familiar to those who spent time in his company.

It’s striking that many of the photos of Jim that have been published in recent days show him smiling, a big, broad smile. Jim embraced life and opportunity, and he made the most of them.

A brief review of his career makes that clear. During nearly two decades as an MP he was instrumental in establishing and shaping the revived Scottish Parliament. As Deputy First Minister over two Parliaments, he ensured that his party maintained its level of electoral support despite being in the difficult role of the smaller party in a coalition. He later became Advocate General for Scotland in the UK coalition, and after........

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