Hamilton by-election, 1967

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Hamilton by-election
Scotland
1966 ←
 1967
 → 1970
 
Candidate Winnie Ewing Alexander Wilson Ian Dyer
Party SNP Labour Conservative
Popular vote 18,397 16,598 4,986
Percentage 46.0% 41.5% 7.3%
MP before election

Tom Fraser
Labour

 Subsequent MP

Winnie Ewing
SNP

The Hamilton by-election, in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, which took place on 2 November 1967, was a milestone in the politics of Scotland. Although Robert McIntyre of the Scottish National Party (SNP) had won and briefly held the Motherwell constituency in a by-election during the last months of World War II, in April–July 1945, it was Winnie Ewing's victory in the Hamilton constituency which propelled the SNP, devolution and eventually independence to the top of the Scottish political agenda.

Winnie Ewing's win was built on the back of Gwynfor Evans' similarly groundbreaking victory for Plaid Cymru at the Carmarthen by-election, 1966, a big advance for the SNP at the Pollok by-election, and gains in local elections, including becoming the largest party in local government in Stirling.[1]

The former Labour MP for the seat was Tom Fraser, who had resigned in order to go to a higher-paying job at the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

Hamilton by-election, 1967
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Winifred Ewing 18,397 46.0 +46.0
Labour Alexander Wilson 16,598 41.5 -29.7
Conservative Ian Dyer 4,986 7.3 -4.6
Majority 1,779
Turnout 39,981
SNP gain from Labour Swing 37.9

References

  1. ↑ Christopher Harvie and Peter Jones, The road to home rule: images of Scotland's cause, p.84

See also


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