A MEMORIAL lecture marking 40 years since the death of a former East Lothian MP has been held in the Scottish Parliament.

John P Mackintosh was Berwick and East Lothian MP when he passed away in 1978, aged just 48.

His memory is honoured each year by the Mackintosh Memorial lecture, which alternates between East Lothian and the University of Edinburgh, where he was also Professor of Politics.

Mackintosh was a powerful advocate of Scottish devolution when that was an unpopular view in the Labour Party.

Marking the 40th anniversary of his death, the regular memorial lecture was replaced by a panel debate on “Where Now for Democracy?”, held in the Scottish Parliament’s main chamber and chaired by Presiding Officer Ken McIntosh.

An audience of 200 heard contributions from Catherine Stihler MEP, Professor Mona Siddiqui, Baron Campbell (former leader of the Liberal Democrats) and Angus Robertson (former deputy leader of the SNP).

The event was followed by a reception in the Parliament, with contributions from Mackintosh’s daughter Charlotte Barbour; Professor Peter Mathieson, principal of the Universtiy of Edinburgh; and East Lothian MSP Iain Gray.

The reception also saw the premiere of a video about Mackintosh directed by John Boothman, a booklet about his life, and an exhibition of material from the university’s archives.

Mr Gray said: “The JP Mackintosh Committee wanted to mark this anniversary in a way that would pay tribute to his significant contribution to British politics and contribute to current political debate.

“The panel debate at Holyrood brought together speakers from a range of different perspectives to consider the topic ‘where now for democracy?’.

“It was a lively and interesting debate and one which I think Mackintosh would have enjoyed.

“Whether it was promoting devolution for Scotland, pooling our sovereignty with our European neighbours, or his work as a Professor at Edinburgh University, democracy and how to strengthen it was very much at the centre of his political thought and action.

“The issues Mackintosh was passionate about remain at the top of the political agenda 40 years on from his death.

“His legacy is a powerful one and I’m very pleased we were able to celebrate it in this way.”