Moray's cross-party tributes to late 'titan' Winnie Ewing
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WINNIE Ewing made an "immense contribution" to Scottish politics, according to Moray MP Douglas Ross.
Describing her as "a titan of the SNP", Mr Ross highlighted the past Moray and Nairn MP's close links with the local area and said she "rightly enjoyed cross-party respect".
He said: “Winnie Ewing’s passing is extremely sad news and my thoughts are with her children Fergus, Annabelle and Terry at this time as well as the rest of her family and friends.
“While she was a titan of the SNP party and the wider independence movement, she rightly enjoyed cross-party respect.
“She was a real trailblazer and served her constituents and the country so well in three separate Parliaments as a MP, MSP and MEP.
"Indeed, I am proud that she was one of my predecessors as the MP for the constituency I now represent.
"Winnie was still spoken of so fondly in the local area as the former MP for Moray and Nairn."
The Scottish Conservative leader also revealed that, while at Forres Academy, he wrote about Winnie in a competition to attend the Scottish Parliament's opening.
He said: “I remember writing about Winnie in a competition as a pupil at Forres Academy to attend the official opening of the Scottish Parliament.
"She inspired so many generations with her immense contribution to Scottish politics.
“Winnie Ewing made a lasting impact on our country and our politics and her efforts locally and nationally will be fondly remembered by so many at this difficult time.”
Leader of Moray Council and Conservative group leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson said: “Ms Ewing made Moray her home and she was a well-known figure in our community.
"She made a unique contribution to Scotland as an MP, MEP and MSP and will be remembered as a trailblazer for women in politics, earning great cross-party respect for her all that she accomplished.
"As a Council we send our condolences to her family.”
Labour group leader Councillor Sandy Keith said: "Winne Ewing was a well known figure who was well respected by many people in Moray.
"Her passing is desperately sad news and our thoughts are with her family as they come to terms with the news."
Neil Alexander, leader of the Moray Liberal Democrats said: "Winnie was a massive figure in Scottish politics.
"She shook the political norms when she famously won the Moray & Nairn seat in 1974, a victory those in any party can only admire and respect
"On behalf of the Moray Lib Dems, our deepest sympathies go out to the family friends of Winnie, particularly to her children Fergus and Annabelle."
