Ex-Scottish Secretary dies aged 85

Feb 23 2013

The former Scottish Secretary and European Commissioner Bruce Millan has died at the age of 85.

His family have paid tribute to a "wonderful, caring father" who was recently diagnosed with cancer and died on Thursday night from bronchial pneumonia at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

Mark Millan, 56, described his dad as someone who "very much loved and looked after his children and grandchildren.

"He always found the right balance for political commitments and his love and care for his family. He was very much involved and generous with his family and his time.

"He was a great dad."

Tribute was also paid by Scottish Labour's Lord Foulkes of Cumnock who said: "Bruce was someone of whom the Labour Party should be very proud. He was a great public servant and a very modest man.

"He served with great distinction as Secretary of State and as a European Commissioner and he will be very sadly missed by all of us within the Labour family."

The Labour politician was born in Dundee and served as an MP in Glasgow for 29 years. He was first elected to represent Glasgow Craigton in 1959 and after that seat was abolished he went on to represent Glasgow Govan at Westminster until 1988.

He then took up the role of European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Cohesion in Brussels until 1995.

Mr Millan is survived by his wife Gwen, son Mark, daughter Liz and two granddaughters.