Scots MP and trade unionist who laid foundations for devolution

Lord Ewing who died on 9 June, 2007 aged 76, was a politician and trade unionist who helped lay the foundations of the Scottish Parliament.

During his 76 years, Lord Ewing was joint chairman of the Scottish constitutional convention and a hardworking Labour MP for Stirling and Falkirk. His family had strong roots in Scotland and in the Labour Party.

In 1970, he contested a seat in East Fife, tens years after beginning his political career. Thirty years on, he was still playing an influential role in Scottish politics.  

In the 1990s, despite approaching national retirement age, he landed the role of chairman of the Fife Healthcare NHS Trust. A position he held for two years.

Harry Ewing was born on 20 January, 1931 in Cowdenbeath, a famous coal mining town. As a youngster he attended Beath high school, before completing his national service with the RAF, between 1949 and 1951.

In 1954, Lord Ewing married Margaret Greenhill and they had one son, Alan and a daughter, Alison. He was from a mining background, although after leaving the RAF, he focused on a career in engineering, where he became a skilled fitter.

Having joined the labour party in 1960, he left his engineering post, becoming a Post Office employee and a member of the Union of Post Office Workers in 1962.

His vocal support for the trade union came in useful for his role as a Labour MP. Staying close to home, he contested a seat in the 1970 election in East Fife, before being elected MP for Stirling the following year.

He became a well known face amongst Scottish Labour MPs during the 1970s and when Harold Wilson won an unexpected election to become British Prime Minister in 1974, Lord Ewing joined the Scottish Office as a junior minister.      

As junior minister it was his responsibility to keep an active eye on the debate surrounding Scottish devolution. His unflappable manner in parliament when such a subject was raised highlighted his capabilities as a strong Labour MP.

After five years in the role, he pursued other interests within the Scottish Parliament, following Labour’s loss in the 1979 general election. He became Labour’s deputy spokesman of Scotland in the same year and later unsuccessfully contested the leadership of the parliamentary party and the Shadow Cabinet in 1981.

In 1987, after over 25 years in politics, Lord Ewing considered his options, asking to be removed from the frontbench at Westminister, before announcing in 1989 that he would no longer be standing for his seat.

It was a decision that allowed him to concentrate on other matters. He was appointed chairman of the Scottish Constitutional Conventional and in 1992 was made Lord Ewing of Kirkford.

His commitment to national and regional healthcare saw him chair an inquiry into housing for the disabled in Scotland shortly after leaving the House of Commons in 1994.

Chairman of Fife Healthcare NHS Trust from 1996- 8 he was also an honorary president of the Girls Brigade in Scotland.

Lord Ewing forged a respectable career as a politician rising to prominence during the 1970s. He gained a reputation for contributing an extraordinary amount of time and effort to issues within both the British and Scottish Parliament.