Winifred Ewing
| Winnie Ewing | |
|---|---|
| President of the Scottish National Party | |
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In office 1987 – September 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Donald Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Ian Hudghton |
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Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands |
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In office 6 May 1999 – 31 March 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Rob Gibson |
| Member of the European Parliament for Highlands and Islands |
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In office 10 June 1979 – 13 June 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
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Member of Parliament for Moray and Nairn |
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In office 28 February 1974 – 3 May 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Gordon Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Pollock |
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Member of Parliament for Hamilton |
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In office 2 November 1967 – 18 June 1970 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Fraser |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Winifred Margaret Woodburn 10 July 1929 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Stewart Martin Ewing (m. 1956–2003) |
| Children |
Fergus Ewing Annabelle Ewing Terry |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Profession | Solicitor |
Winifred Margaret Ewing (born 10 July 1929) is a Scottish nationalist, lawyer and prominent Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who was a Member of Parliament (Hamilton 1967–70; Moray and Nairn 74–79), Member of the European Parliament (Highlands and Islands 1975–1999) and Member of the Scottish Parliament (Highlands and Islands 1999–2003). Her election victory in 1967 was a significant by-election in Scottish political history and began a surge of support for the SNP. She was the Scottish National Party President from 1987 to 2005.
Born Winifred Margaret Woodburn in Glasgow, she was educated at Battlefield School and Queen's Park Senior Secondary School. In 1946 she matriculated at Glasgow University where she earned an MA and studied for an LLB. Though not very active in politics at that time, she joined the Student Nationalists. After graduation she qualified and practised as a solicitor and notary public. She was Secretary of the Glasgow Bar Association from 1962 to 1967.
She became active in campaigning for Scottish independence through her membership of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association, and came to prominence in 1967 when she won the watershed Hamilton by-election as the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate. A practising solicitor at the time of her election, she proved to be a sound choice as her eloquence and ability bolstered a hard-fought SNP campaign and saw her through to victory. She was also helped on to victory by a team of enthusiastic helpers, among them her election agent, John McAteer. On 16 November she made her first appearance at Westminster, with her husband and children accompanied her on the journey. She arrived at the parliament in a Scottish-built Hillman Imp and was greeted by a crowd and a pipe band. She said at the time of her election, 'stop the world, Scotland wants to get on', and her presence at Westminster proved to be a real focus for the SNP with a significant rise in membership being the result. Furthermore, many political commentators speculate that it was as a result of her victory that the then Labour Government established the Kilbrandon Commission to look into the establishment of a devolved Scottish Assembly.
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