Stewart Mackenzie is named consumer champion of the year

THE man whose campaign led to the official introduction of McKenzie Friends in Scotland's courts has been named the consumer champion of the year at the 2010 Which? Awards.

Stewart Mackenzie has been rewarded for his efforts in lodging a successful public petition at the Scottish Parliament that has seen the Lord President concede that lay helpers should be permitted in court.

Last week, Lord Hamilton confirmed he had signed an Act of Sederunt to introduce the system, which is already used in other legal jurisdictions.

It marked the culmination of months of campaigning by Perthshire resident Stewart Mackenzie to have the system formalised in Scotland. His efforts came up against confusion amid the Scottish courts system following an insistence by Lord Hamilton that it was already permitted on the discretion of the judiciary.

Before he lodged his petition, Mr Mackenzie was part of the campaign that eventually led to the establishment of the independent Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in 2008, and praise from finance secretary John Swinney, who commended his achievement.

Now, he is to follow in the footsteps of previous winners of the award, such as former pensions minister James Purnell and John McFall, the former chair of the Treasury select committee.

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said: "Stewart's tireless campaigning to improve legal services for Scottish consumers has helped drive the creation of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and led directly to the imminent introduction of McKenzie Friends in Scottish courts. This makes him a worthy winner of the Which? Consumer Champion Award."

Mr Mackenzie told The Scotsman he intends to launch a new campaign within months, said he was "pleased" with the award, adding: "Sadly, Scotland has a history of extreme delay in implementing legal reforms which have occurred not only in England and Wales, but also throughout other countries in the Commonwealth."