Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Macleod biri ndụ ya na Achiltibuie na Inverness. Ọ gara ụlọ akwụkwọ praịmarị Leachkin, Jedburgh Grammar School na Loretto School, Musselburgh, tupu ọ mụọ ọgwụ na Mahadum Edinburgh. Dịka onye gụsịrị akwụkwọ na mahadum, ọ bụ onye isi oche nke Edinburgh University Students 'Association. Mgbe ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ, o nwere ọtụtụ ọrụ ndị dọkịta na-eto eto na Edinburgh na Forth Valley. Ọ bụ onye isi nke Mahadum Edinburgh site na 1994 ruo 1997, onye odeakwụkwọ nke Labour Campaign maka nzuko omeiwu Scottish, yana onye otu National Executive nke mkpọsa Scotland FORward, otu ndị otu na-eme mkpọsa maka votu YES-YES na Scottish Parliament.
Ntuliaka maka inyefe ikike ọchịchị 1997.