Editing Donald Dewar (section)

== Legacy ==
[[File:Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumDSCF0239 01.JPG|thumb|left|Bust of Donald Dewar by Archie Forrest in the [[Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum]], Glasgow|264x264px]]Dewar's commitment to re-establishing the [[Scottish Parliament]] and his tireless work on the [[Scotland Act 1998]] has led to his epithet the "[[Father of the Nation]]" and the "Father of Devolution".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3727308.stm|title=Donald Dewar, Father of a Nation? |first=Andrew |last=McFadyen |work=BBC News |date=8 October 2004 |access-date=12 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last1=Alex |first1=Michael |last2=er |title=Legacy of Donald Dewar, 'the father of devolution' remembered on 20th anniversary of death |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/1629004/sharp-intelligent-with-a-lot-of-political-skill-scotlands-first-first-minister-donald-dewar-remembered-on-20th-anniversary-of-death/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=The Courier |date=10 October 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=4 October 2019|title=Profile: Donald Dewar the architect of the Scottish Parliament |first=Jenni |last=Davidson |url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,profile-donald-dewar-the-architect-of-the-scottish-parliament_12103.htm|access-date=11 April 2023|work=Holyrood Website|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/966880.stm | work=BBC News | title='Father of nation' dies | date=11 October 2000 | access-date=29 March 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217180818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/966880.stm | archive-date=17 December 2006 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics-made-good-on-the-unfinished-business-of-devolution-634618.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=The Father of the Nation, who made good on the unfinished business of devolution | first=Andrew | last=Grice | date=12 October 2000 | access-date=29 March 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917082516/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-father-of-the-nation-who-made-good-on-the-unfinished-business-of-devolution-634618.html | archive-date=17 September 2009 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> His [[advocacy]] for [[Scottish devolution]] began in the 1960s, at a time when devolution was fairly unpopular among Labour politicians. However, he persevered to gain support from all parties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-12 |title=The Legacy of Donald Dewar and Scotland's Stories: Past, Present and Future |url=https://gerryhassan.com/blog/the-legacy-of-donald-dewar-and-scotlands-stories-past-present-and-future/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=Gerry Hassan - writing, research, policy and ideas |language=en-US}}</ref>  

Although Dewar did not associate with [[Scottish nationalism]] or support attempts for [[independence]], he was a "[[Unionism in the United Kingdom|great unionist]]" and saw the new Parliament as a "journey not a destination", which left many Labour supporters questioning devolution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Not forgotten: A look at Donald Dewar's legacy, 20 years on from his untimely death. |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-angus-and-the-mearns-edition/20201010/281483573849146 |access-date=2022-09-19 |via=PressReader}}</ref> His leadership prioritised [[semi-proportional representation]] for [[Elections in Scotland|Scottish parliamentary elections]]. At the time, many thought this, and devolution, would "end the [[Scottish National Party|Scottish National Party's]] success". However, in the late-2000s Labour's popularity plummeted in Scotland while the SNP's popularity grew rapidly.<ref name=":4" /> [[File:Donald Dewar Statue, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.jpg|thumb|right|In 2002, a {{convert|9|ft|spell=in|adj=on}} bronze statue of Dewar was erected outside Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall in a ceremony attended by then-Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]], and other Scottish politicians.<ref>''BBC News'' 2002</ref>|212x212px]]Dewar received nicknames such as "Donald Dour" for his stiff, matter-of-fact tone and "The Gannet" due to his large appetite.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} UK {{!}} UK Politics {{!}} Dewar reaches the top |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/337520.stm |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

In May 2002, then Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] unveiled [[Statue of Donald Dewar|a statue of Dewar]] at the top of Glasgow's [[Buchanan Street]]. In keeping with his famously unkempt appearance, it showed Dewar wearing a slightly crumpled jacket.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-05-07 |title=Blair unveils Dewar memorial |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1971243.stm |access-date=2022-09-20}}</ref>

The statue was taken down in October 2005 to be cleaned, and was re-erected on a {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=on}} high plinth in December to protect it from vandalism. On the base of the statue was inscribed the opening words of the Scotland Act: "There Shall Be A Scottish Parliament", a phrase to which Dewar himself famously said, "I like that!"

Dewar called the [[Old Royal High School]] on [[Calton Hill]] in Edinburgh a "[[Scottish nationalist|nationalist]] [[shibboleth]]", mainly because it had been the proposed site of the [[Scottish Assembly]] in the [[1979 Scottish devolution referendum|1979 referendum]]. Dewar's opposition to the Calton Hill site partly contributed to the selection of the [[Holyrood, Edinburgh|Holyrood]] site, [[Scottish Parliament Building#Problems|which proved expensive]].

The First ScotRail [[British Rail Class 334|Class 334]] train ''334001'' was named ''Donald Dewar'' in his memory. The "Dewar Arts Award" was created by the Scottish Executive in 2002 dedicated to his memory. This award supports talented young Scottish artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dewarawards.org/about|title=The Dewar Awards|website=Dewar Awards|access-date=25 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624200409/http://www.dewarawards.org/about|archive-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>