Murray Elder, Lord Elder, was a longserving Labour party adviser who was particularly close to three of the leading Scottish political figures of his era: Gordon Brown, John Smith and Donald Dewar. Elder, who has died aged 73, subordinated his own political ambitions to the role of trusted adviser and, when necessary, enforcer and fixer on behalf of his political bosses, who were also his friends. These were very much relationships of equals based on respect for Elder’s intelligence, judgment and discretion.
After spending the 1970s as a Bank of England economist, the call of Labour came to Elder in 1980, after Smith became shadow trade and industry secretary and needed economic advice. Brown, who had been to school with Elder, recommended his old friend for the role, and a strong working relationship was formed between him and Smith, who in turn also became a close friend.
