Former SNP leader Gordon Wilson dies, aged 79
2 min read
The former SNP leader Gordon Wilson died this morning after a short illness, the party has confirmed.
The once Dundee East MP led the party from 1979 through to 1990, before he was succeeded by Alex Salmond.
In paying tribute to Mr Wilson, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said his “contribution to the success of the modern SNP was immense”.
"From his early days promoting the case for independence on Radio Free Scotland to his 13 years of service as MP for Dundee East and 11 years as leader of the party, Gordon was a passionate advocate for Scotland at every level,” she said.
"He was at the centre of many lively and passionate debates through the 1970s and 80s over how independence would be achieved and continued to play a part in the independence debate right through to the referendum in 2014."
Mr Wilson had in recent times been vocally sceptical about the timing of a second independence referendum, warning his party not to push for the vote too soon.
Ms Sturgeon added: "Gordon was always forthright in his views and his commitment to seeing Scotland become an independent country was second to none.
"Even - perhaps especially - on those occasions when his views on tactics differed from mine, I always highly valued and appreciated his advice.
Mr Salmond, who led the party after Mr Wilson, said the Scottish nationalist movement owed his predecessor a “great debt”
“Not only was Gordon one of the masterminds of the SNP parliamentary breakthrough of the 1970s but he led the party through tough times in the 1980s," the ex-MP said.
“Holding his Dundee seat in 1979 and 1983 was crucial in retaining the credibility which allowed the SNP to prosper in the 1990s and beyond”.
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