Winnie Ewing Obituary

Winnie Ewing was a Scottish politician, lawyer and figure within the independence movement who served as President of the Scottish National Party from 1987 to 2005.

She was born and raised in Glasgow, Ewing studied law at the University of Glasgow where she joined the University’s Scottish Nationalist Association.

Ewing was elected to the European Parliament in the 1979 elections, representing the Highlands and Islands. In the parliament, she acquired the nickname, Madame Ecosse because of her advocacy of Scottish interests in Brussels. In 1987, she became the President of the Scottish National Party, succeeding Ian Hudgton.

She also served as Vice President of the European Radical Alliance and by 1995, had become Britain’s longest-serving MEP. In the first elections to the Scottish Parliament, she was elected to serve as MSP for Highlands and Islands.

As the oldest qualified member, it was her duty to preside over the opening of the Scottish Parliament.