FOR a lad from Dumbarton who left school with no qualifications, John McFall, or Baron McFall of Acluith, has done alright for himself.

After turning 72 last week, you'd be forgiven for thinking the political stalwart would take things easy- but not a chance of it.

Lord McFall's new role, which took effect last month, is now Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.

And the former Labour front bencher, who furthered his education at night school, then the Open University, relishes playing his part in the Westminster machine.

He said: "I took up the role at the same time the new Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, was introduced.

"And the title is second to Lord Fowler's. If he's not there, I'd take his place.

"If Parliament was recalled and he's not there, then I'd step in.

"I also chair the Privileges and Conduct Committee and liaison committee and I'm on the House of Lords commission, the body established to take the strategic aims and objectives of Parliament as a whole, forward.

"We have to work very closely with the House of Commons."

Brexit is on everybody's lips and for Lord McFall, he'll be going through the whole divorce with a fine tooth comb.

He explained: "When Brexit comes along one of the issues will be how do we scrutinise this legislation and I'll be involved helping direct that. It's virgin territory.

"One cabinet minister told me there are around 70 acts that will have to be looked at just to extricate ourselves from the European Union! This is going to be a long, complicated process."

Lord McFall has been a Labour man all his life but many within his former party believe there is no place for an unelected body such as the House of Lords.

But he said: "When I stepped down in 2010 it was suggested to me that going into the House of Lords would be beneficial to the Labour side.

"Six months after I went in I was appointed to Parliamentary Commission for Banking Standards, an independent body set up by the Prime Minister and comprising members of the house of commons and house of lords. Some lords included Nigel Lawson, the former Chancellor, myself and the former head of the Civil Service.

"We were to look at the issue of the culture in banking and to give recommendations for new legislation.

"It was envisaged that we'd sit for six months but we sat for two years.

"At the end of the day a new banking act was introduced. And the House of Lords secured amendments to the bill which the government didn't want in, so it was a great example of an independent body jointly working with the house of commons and house of lords and getting necessary legislation into place.

"It proves there is a need for a second chamber. The need for scrutiny of legislation is hugely important."

Lord McFall also reckons the House of Lords can provide valuable expertise when called upon, as he explained: "One thing that has

impressed me is the range of expertise on medicine, or medical ethics, human rights or foreign affairs. You can always find an expert in these areas.

"I want the membership of the House of Lords to be reduced, there is no doubt about that and I want to ensure that it does its legislative scrutiny business.

"I also think that the House of Commons should be sovereign and the second chamber should be subservient to it but it does it well.

"Does it need to change? I think so and I also think constitutional arrangements need to change within the entire UK system so we are getting appropriate devolution for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales- and England- whether that it a City strategy or whatever else- and a reformed house of lords worked into that."

Lord McFall, due to his current role, had to give up affiliation to the Labour Party but what will never diminish are his achievements.

He said: "Some achievements include fighting for 10 years in opposition, then getting into government. And being a part player in the Northern Ireland peace process.

"There was also the time when I was Treasury committee chairman and a Presbyterian Mutual Society went down financially.

"Because they were not governed by the Financial Services Authority the savers lost all their money.

"I fought a campaign on their behalf for years and in 2012 it came to fruition, they were compensated.

"Locally, when the J&B plant went down I established a task force and I chaired the Strathleven Regeneration Company- I was there for 15 years."

He was MP for Dumbarton and then West Dunbartonshire from 1987 until 2010 when he stood down and was succeed by Gemma Doyle.

But her tenure was wiped out by the SNP 'Tsunami' in 2015.

Lord McFall said: "Gemma represented the place well but a Tsunami overtook us. It didn't matter who would have been there, it would have been the same result.

"But I've had a few nice exchanges with Martin Docherty-Hughes (the current West Dunbartonshire SNP MP) and he's warm and engaging."

Working in such a high profile role does come with its pomp and ceremony but Lord McFall takes it in his stride.

He said: "When the Arch Bishop of Canterbury is not there, I sit in his seat and when he is there I sit in the Arch Bishop of York's seat. I've come along way from Dumbarton!"

Lord McFall reckons Labour have some ground to make up if they are to be considered as the next government in waiting.

He said: "We have a mountain to climb- whether in England or Scotland. But Labour Party values will endure.

"They are still as relevant for the 21st Century as they were when we started at the beginning of the 20th century."

Despite leaving school with no qualifications Lord McFall credits his wife Joan as the catalyst for his further education.

He said: "I have done a science degree, philosophy degree and I have a Masters in Business and Administration.

"My wife helped me, she put me back on the conveyor belt and I went back to night school, then I went to university.

"She put me on the conveyor belt and sometimes she's taken me off it, saying "you've had enough" but I've had quite a journey."