The last lord chancellor

Lord Mackay of Clashfern to leave the Lords at 95

Messages of admiration and goodwill filled my Twitter timeline on Wednesday when I reported that Lord Mackay of Clashfern KT plans to retire from the House of Lords next month, shortly after he celebrates his 95th birthday.

Alex Foster @alexfoz21

@JoshuaRozenberg When I was just out of pupillage I literally knocked over a diminutive framed gentleman at Newcastle County Court. Fortunately a man behind caught him. After offering my sincere apologies it dawned upon me this was the LC. He was lovely.

Sandy Flatman💙 @tadleytype

@JoshuaRozenberg He was the minister who represented our interests when I worked at The National Archives (Public Record Office). Took the time to tour the building to engage directly with the staff. A true gentleman.

He is still one of the most active peers, but parliament is not what it was. Neither is the post he held for an unbroken period of almost 10 years — a record for the 20th century.

Mark Hill QC @MarkHillQC

@bricksilk @JoshuaRozenberg @UKHouseofLords James Mackay is the last of the great Lord Chancellors. He understood that the office was above party politics. And his integrity make him seem a creature of another era. The red benches will be much the poorer when he retires. His impish humour will be greatly missed.

David Anderson @bricksilk

@JoshuaRozenberg To the very end Lord Mackay remains a magisterial presence in @UKHouseofLords. Such is his stature, including with the government front bench, that his name on an amendment is the strongest possible indicator that it will be accepted.

James Mackay was the last lord chancellor to serve all three branches of the constitution with distinction.