After Presiding Officer
Reid chose not to seek re-election at the end of the 2007 Parliamentary term. As an independent figure with experience of a devolved parliament, he was chosen to lead a review of the administration of the troubled Northern Ireland Assembly. Reid also joined the European Union's Caucasus-Caspian diplomatic commission. On April 19, 2007, he was made a Freeman of the County of Clackmannanshire.
He was then appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in January 2008, to serve as the Queen's personal representative to the Church of Scotland. This position is second only to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in the ceremonial Order of Precedence. In 2011 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire.
He also serves as an Honorary Professor in the School of Law at Glasgow University, and holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of St Andrews, University of Edinburgh, University of Stirling and Queen Margaret University. Reid is married with two children.
Reid is also currently in talks with the National Trust for Scotland: he has been asked to lead its impending wide-ranging internal governance review. He has highlighted three key areas for the Trust's report: the report must be properly resourced and completed within six months, it must be a transparent process with regular feedback, and it must be open to all opinions.
He was knighted in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to Scottish politics and public life.
Read more about this topic: George Reid (Scottish Politician)
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“No officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official duties. No assessment for political purposes on officers or subordinates should be allowed.”
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