High praise for William Wolfe's crucial role

Published on Friday 19 March 2010 21:51

ALEX Salmond last night led tributes to the former SNP leader Billy Wolfe, who played a crucial role in the party's rise to prominence.

• William Wolfe saw the SNP achieve its greatest electoral success at Westminster. Picture: Alan Ledgerwood

The First Minister said Mr Wolfe, who has died aged 86, "more than anyone" transformed it into a modern political party.

Mr Wolfe was Nationalist leader for a decade, during which time the party achieved its greatest electoral success at Westminster.

He died in Udston Hospital in Hamilton on Thursday night. He had been ill for some time.

Under his leadership, between 1969 to 1979, the party won 11 seats in the general election in October 1974 – the highest number of MPs it has ever had.

The First Minister said: "Billy Wolfe blazed the trail in the professionalisation and organisation of the SNP – and he more than anyone transformed it into a modern political party."

He said his surprise second place in the 1962 West Lothian by-election had been a key moment for the SNP.

A minute's silence will be held at the SNP conference in Aviemore today in his memory.

Mr Wolfe is survived by his wife Kate and his four children from a previous marriage, David, Sheila, Ilene and Patrick.