The founding father of devolution has left Scotland transformed

A political era is over. Donald Dewar, the man who wrote the Scotland Act that created the Holyrood parliament in Edinburgh, is dead. The founding father of Scottish devolution leaves a nation politically transformed as his legacy.

In the context of UK politics, the temptation is to view the Scottish constitutional argument as a sideshow of only parochial interest, yet Dewar and his colleagues succeeded in altering the very essence of the British state. He was central in a process that dominated his generation of politicians, and he delivered a parliament that sought to change the nature of political dialogue.

Dewar's sudden death from a brain haemorrhage has shocked Scotland. Voices from across the political spectrum have spoken of his honesty and wisdom. The tragic end to his life has caused sadness in all walks of life. It is a rare thing in an age of cynicism and glib politics for a nation to have been led by a decent man and now Scotland mourns its loss.

Dewar was born in Glasgow on August 21st, 1937, into a middle-class family, the son of a doctor. He attended Glasgow Academy and went on to Glasgow University where he studied law and was president of the union between 1961 and 1962. He won the Observer Mace competition while at university, and became best friends with his fellow student John Smith.

In 1964 he married Alison McNair and they had a son and a daughter. Alison was later to leave him for Derry Irvine, now the Lord Chancellor in Tony Blair's cabinet. The couple divorced in 1973. He never remarried and although close to his children, he entered the Commons in 1966 and made politics his life.

Between 1966 and 1970, he was the MP for Aberdeen South, but he lost that notoriously marginal seat and spent eight years in law practice before victory in the 1978 Glasgow Garscadden by-election re turned him to parliament. His first public role came in 1967 when he was made PPS to the president of the Board of Trade.

He served as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in the 1980s. After the 1992 general election Mr Dewar moved to the UK portfolio of social security, then to the key post of opposition chief whip in the run-up to victory in 1997. Nobody had any doubt that following Labour's success Dewar would return as Secretary of State for Scotland.

Dewar typified a certain kind of Scot, motivated by a sense of public duty and with a reserved but intellectual manner, much like his friend John Smith. Both were united in the cause to deliver Scottish devolution. They helped draft the first bid for a devolved parliament, the 1978 Scotland Act, and both watched as it was torn to shreds in Westminster.

Smith described devolution for Scotland as "unfinished business". When he died in 1994 it fell to Dewar to finish the task. He drafted the 1998 Scotland Act, said to be a model of legislative clarity, and watched as it was turned into reality, the parliament of his dreams opening on July 1st, 1999. For all the sadness that clogs the air in Scotland, there is happiness too, as few politicians are lucky enough to see their life's work realised.

Tributes are legion. Opposition party leaders in Edinburgh, Labour Party colleagues and Queen Elizabeth have all recorded their grief. Labour must now hold an election for his successor, as a new First Minister must be in office within 28 days. It is thought likely that Henry McLeish will be nominated as the sole candidate.

Labour's electoral college is split three ways between constituency associations, members of the Scottish, British and European parliaments and the trade unions.

Yesterday an informal meeting of the cabinet was held to discuss the situation. Spokesman David Whit ton said it was "like a family gathering". "Everyone will agree that this is a sad day for Scotland. Scotland has lost a great man," he said.

It was a view that found no dissenters.