 | 'Margaret Ewing gave politics a good name.' SSP leader Colin Fox MSP, 22 nd March 2006. |  |
| 'Margaret Ewing gave politics a good name.' SSP leader Colin Fox MSP, 22 nd March 2006. | |
Margaret Ewing was hailed as a model politician yesterday, as her parliamentary colleagues united to pay tribute to the Moray MSP after her death at the age of 60.
Leaders of all parties were united in their grief for Mrs Ewing, who died on Tuesday at her Lossiemouth home, and in their praise for her political skill and her personal warmth.
All offered condolences to her husband of more than 20 years, Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber MSP Fergus Ewing.
Flags flew at half-mast outside the parliament building yesterday and a book of condolence has been placed in the main hall. Presiding Officer George Reid recalled Mrs Ewing as "a lassie o'pairts" whose upbringing in a ploughman's cottage gave her "a love of the land and a conviction that, in Scotland, a man is as good as his master.
The presiding officer also recalled meeting her one morning in the early days of the Scottish Parliament when she was among the MSPs who also had seats at Westminster.
"She had just come up from Westminster, had endured a truly dreadful night of sickness and of pain on the sleeper," he said. "She could have retired then on health grounds but she had the courage to fight her fears, to fight her cancer and to go on right to the end of the road - to serve her country and her constituents to her very last day."
SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon moved her motion of condolence "with a heavy heart but a great deal of pride" and called Mrs Ewing "one of the warmest, kindest, friendliest people I have ever known.
"It was those qualities, above all others, that led the people of her beloved Moray to place their trust in her at five consecutive elections over almost 20 years," Ms Sturgeon said.
"Margaret was devoted to her constituents - she championed the causes that were dearest to them. The redevelopment of maternity services at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin was possibly the biggest of her many local achievements."
The tribute which Ms Sturgeon found most striking came from Breast Cancer Care, as it reflected the fact that, even with her own "dreadful experience" with the disease, Mrs Ewing had used it to help others.
First Minister Jack McConnell said that although he disagreed with her fundamental views, Mrs Ewing's contribution to the 1970s debate about the way forward for Scotland had a profound impact on him. He also spoke of her support for his work on developing links between Scotland and Malawi.
Mr McConnell added that Mrs Ewing "provided a model" for the conduct of political debate. He said: "She was tenacious for those she represented, tireless for the cause she supported, witty when faced with bombast or pretension, but without rancour or malice. Most of all, she was committed to Scotland and its people."
Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie described Mrs Ewing as "an effervescent political force."
"This parliament is a small political family and there is a sense of loss," she said. "A sense of loss made real by what we shall miss in this chamber and what the world of Scottish politics has lost by her passing."
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen spoke of an affinity with Mrs Ewing as a fellow north-east politician.
"I saw at first hand her passion for her work, for her constituents, for the issues facing her Moray constituency," he said.
Referring to a heckle which Mrs Ewing once aimed at former First Minister Henry McLeish, he added: "I think there is one word that sums up all that is best about this new parliament and that will bring many, many happy memories of an outstanding, kind, courageous person and a great Scottish parliamentarian.
"That word begins with an M and ends in a T."
Green Party co-convener Robin Harper praised her "huge contribution" to public life in Scotland while SSP leader Colin Fox said she "gave politics a good name".
Possibly the most personal memories came from Falkirk West MSP Dennis Canavan, speaking for the Independent MSPs, who spoke of Mrs Ewing's time as a colleague of his at St Modan's High School in Stirling. He said she was meticulous and taught with "patience and understanding," showing a particular dedication to pupils with learning difficulties which was ahead of its time.
He identified Mrs Ewing's tenacity as her most prominent quality.
"She fought hard and persevered courageously in everything she did, whether it was in education, in politics, in serving her constituents or in her final battle with cancer," he said.
Return to home page