A PIONEER & PATRIOT

Tributes paid to politician who paved the way for SNP to dominate Scottish politics today from humble beginnings as 60s fringe party

- CHRIS McCALL and ANDREW QUINN

POLITICAL allies and rivals paid tribute last night to trailblazing SNP politician Winnie Ewing who has died, aged 93.

The Glasgow-born solicitor was credited with helping to turn the Nationalists into a modern election-winning party.

Her victory in Labour heartland at the 1967 Hamilton by-election was one of the biggest upsets in British politics.

She was only the second SNP candidate to be elected as an MP.

Ewing went to become a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), where she was dubbed "Madame Ecosse" for her fierce promotion of Scotland.

She would become an SNP MSP at the first Scottish Parliament elections in 1999 and serve as the chamber's first presiding officer.

A statement on behalf of her family said: "Mrs Ewing, generally considered the most important Scottish politician of her generation, served as an MP, MEP and MSP, and was the first presiding officer of the reconvened Scottish Parliament in 1999.

"She is survived by children Fergus, Annabelle and Terry, and grandchildren Natasha, Ciara, Jamie, and Sophie.