Winnie Ewing

Ewing's win at the Hamilton by-election in 1967, overturning a Labour majority of over 16,000, made the SNP a force at Westminster and frightened both main parties into taking Scottish self-government seriously; Edward Heath's 'Declaration of Perth' backing an assembly followed in 1968. She later served in the European Parliament and, as the oldest member, opened the new Scottish Parliament in 1999 with the words 'The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the 25th day of March 1707, is hereby reconvened.'