 | 'I think everyone who knew Margaret will be deeply saddened by this news. I extend my sympathies to her family. I will remember her as a young woman in politics who was great fun and the life and soul of the party.' Margo MacDonald MSP, 22 nd March 2006. |  |
THERE was a sense of grief unusual across the party political divide at Holyrood yesterday following the death of Margaret Ewing.
Today's Holyrood proceedings in the latest makeshift chamber of committee room 2 will begin with a motion of tribute to Mrs Ewing and condolence to her family.
Having fought both breast cancer and pneumonia in recent years, she had commented that she "was no stranger to the NHS" but each time she visited hospital she was "struck time and again by the amazing dedication of the staff".
After these illnesses, her husband, Fergus, said she had been deeply touched by the hundreds of letters, cards and flowers that arrived. Last night he was back at the family home in Lossiemouth where she died.
Alex Salmond, against whom she contested the party leadership in 1990, said last night: "Margaret Ewing was an outstanding member of parliament in both Westminster and in Scotland and a hugely supportive friend and colleague. She will be missed across the political spectrum because Margaret was one of the few politicians without an enemy in the world."
He added: "Margaret also possessed a wicked sense of humour and her running commentaries at Westminster on a variety of government ministers were a joy to listen to. She carried that mastery of the devastating debating one-liners into the Scots parliament."
The SNP's Holyrood leader, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "Margaret was an outstanding parliamentarian and an inspiration to all who knew her, not least in the brave way she fought illness in recent times. She will be hugely missed by her constituents whose corner she fought tirelessly over many years."
Angus Robertson, who succeeded her as Moray MP, said: "Over recent years she fought bravely against cancer, which never diminished her energy for the independence cause. Margaret even attended the AGM of Moray SNP constituency association two days ago, despite ill health."
George Reid, the Holyrood presiding officer who shared a Westminster office with her in the 1970s, said: "The entire parliament is saddened and shocked by Margaret's death. Margaret was a lovely person, well-respected in all parties by members at Holyrood and Westminster. Her commitment to Scotland over 32 years of public service was as outstanding as it was unstinting."
Jack McConnell, the first minister said: "For over 30 years Margaret Ewing has made a significant contribution, both on behalf of the constituents she represented and Scottish politics."
Annabel Goldie, for the Scots Tories, said: "There is a very real sense of loss at the death of Margaret Ewing. She was an able parliamentarian and a doughty advocate for the constituents whose interests she represented robustly and eloquently."
Nicol Stephen, for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: "I first got to know Margaret when we were colleagues in the House of Commons. She was one of the kindest and friendliest people in politics."
Ms Ewing, at 29, was one of Britain's youngest MPs when she won East Dunbartonshire in 1974, by a majority of just 22.
Born in Lanark, she went to Glasgow University and gained a teaching diploma at Jordanhill College of Education in 1968. She became MP for Moray in 1987, winning that seat from the Tories, and later stood for the leadership of the SNP but was beaten by Alex Salmond.
Re-elected to Moray five times Ð first as an MP and then as an MSP Ð she campaigned for extra winter heating payments, fought on behalf of the whisky industry, and had an interest in education and the developing world.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald, who is patron of the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign, said: "I think everyone who knew Margaret will be deeply saddened by this news. I extend my sympathies to her family. I will remember her as a young woman in politics who was great fun and the life and soul of the party."
The charity Breast Cancer Care, whose campaigns Ms Ewing had supported in the past, also paid tribute.
Spokeswoman Sophie Howells said: "She will be remembered as a passionate campaigner to improve support for the 41,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year."
Ms Ewing's death will create a by-election in Moray, where she had a record majority of 5312 over the second-placed Tories at the 2003 Holyrood election, with Labour in third place.
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