Menzies Campbell – a sporting gentleman

Menzies Campbell, a prominent Liberal Democrat, whose expertise in foreign affairs brought clashes with Tony Blair over Iraq and helped his party secure a surge of seats in the aftermath, has died.

 Born 22 May 1941 at 1.40 am Glasgow, he read law at Glasgow university at the same time as John Smith, the future Labour leader, Donald Dewar, later the first minister in the Scottish government and Derry Irvine, later Lord Chancellor. He was also a top class sprinter, representing GB in the 200 metres and the 100-metre relay team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. In 1967, he twice ran 100 metres in 10.2 seconds — a record which legend says led to him being termed the “fastest white man on the planet”.

  He was well regarded in politics as an elder statesmen but proved less capable as party leader. He served as MP for North-East Fife in Scotland for 28 years from 1987. His wife of 53 years, Elspeth died in 2023.

 He had a communicative 4^th house Gemini Sun conjunct Jupiter Uranus in Taurus trine Neptune in Virgo in the 8^th – lucky but not obviously an ambitious high flyer. His sociable Venus in Gemini in his entertaining and sporting 5^th house ruled his 9^th house of international affairs.

  His Mars in Pisces was inconjunct Pluto sextile his Libra North Node – which would help with his competitive athletic career but proved less able to handle the cut and thrust of political leadership.

  When he was was elected head of the LibDems his Solar Arc Neptune was opposition his Uranus, moving on to oppose his Uranus/Jupiter midpoint, which would be undermining; with a pressured SA Sun square his Pluto on one leg of his Martian yod. When he resigned 22 months later tr Saturn was opposition his focal point Mars.

 It was an unfortunate blip in an otherwise exemplary career.