SNP political icon Winnie Ewing dies aged 92

Former SNP MP Winnie Ewing - an icon of the Scottish independency question - has died aged 93.

Mrs Ewing was elected to the House of Commons successful the 1967 Hamilton by-election and served arsenic president of the enactment from 1987 to 2005.

Her lad Fergus and girl Annabelle are some MSPs astatine Holyrood.

Mrs Ewing's predetermination to Westminster successful 1967 was a breakthrough which marked the commencement of the SNP's emergence passim the 1970s.

On arriving successful London to be the House of Commons for the archetypal time, she famously told the press: "Stop the World, Scotland wants to get on".

A connection issued connected behalf of her household said: "Mrs Ewing, mostly considered the astir important Scottish person of her generation, served arsenic an MP, MEP and MSP, and was the archetypal presiding serviceman of the reconvened Scottish Parliament successful 1999.

"She sparked the revival of the SNP's fortunes, which proceed to this day, with her triumph successful the Hamilton by-election of 1967.

"Mrs Ewing died connected Wednesday surrounded by her family.

"She is survived by children Fergus, Annabelle and Terry, and grandchildren Natasha, Ciara, Jamie, and Sophie. She besides had a heavy affection for daughters-in-law Fiona and Jacqui.

"She was a loving and devoted woman to Stewart Martin Ewing, who died successful 2003 aged 76.

"It would beryllium appreciated if the household could beryllium accorded privateness astatine this time."

Mrs Ewing described her astir treasured representation arsenic the opening of the Scottish Parliament successful 1999, which she presided implicit arsenic the oldest member.

She told the opening session: "I privation to statesman with the words that I person ever wanted either to say, oregon perceive idiosyncratic other say: 'The Scottish Parliament, which adjourned connected March 25, 1707, is hereby reconvened.'

She had trained and practised arsenic a lawyer earlier entering authorities full-time, joining the SNP successful 1946 and going connected to go the caput of a household governmental dynasty wrong the party.

The by-election triumph astatine Hamilton - 1 of the astir celebrated victories successful Scottish governmental past - was nary flash successful the pan. In 1974, Ewing famously defeated the past Scottish Secretary, Gordon Campbell, to instrumentality the spot of Moray and Nairn.

As good arsenic serving successful some the UK and Scottish Parliaments, Ms Ewing was besides a subordinate of the European Parliament from 1975 to 1999, becoming known arsenic Madame Ecosse and being fixed the rubric Mother of the European Parliament.

In July 2001, she announced her volition to basal down arsenic a database MSP for the Highlands and Islands up of the Scottish Parliament elections.