Gordon Wilson (Scottish politician)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Wilson (born 16 April 1938) is a former leader of the Scottish National Party
(SNP) and current leading figure in the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in Scotland. He followed Billy Wolfe
as SNP leader, and was himself succeeded by Alex Salmond
in 1990.
Wilson was also a Member of Parliament
for the Dundee East
constituency from 1974 to 1987, when he lost to John McAllion
of the Labour Party
.
Wilson's leadership was characterised by mixed fortunes. He was leader in the early 1980s when the party was in internal turmoil, and he was a key mover in proscribing both Siol nan Gaidheal
and the 79 Group
. He also led the party through two poor general election performances in 1983
and 1987
. However, a highlight of his leadership was the Govan
by-election victory in 1988
.
Wilson attempted to involve the SNP in the Scottish Constitutional Convention
but due to the convention's unwillingness to contemplate discussions about Scottish independence
as a constitutional option the SNP did not get involved.
Wilson can be characterised as a SNP Fundamentalist
, although more of the old style rather than the new breed who tend to be firmly on the left of the party, with Wilson being more moderate in opinion. Recently Wilson has been seen as an embarrassment to elected members of the SNP for repeatedly airing his views against same-sex marriage.
Before his successes in electoral politics, Wilson was "Controller General" for a time of the political pirate station Radio Free Scotland
.
Some of Gordon Wilson's papers are now held by Archive Services at the University of Dundee
.
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) and current leading figure in the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in Scotland. He followed Billy Wolfe
William Wolfe
William Cuthbertson "Billy" Wolfe was the leader of the Scottish National Party from 1969 to 1979...
as SNP leader, and was himself succeeded by Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
in 1990.
Wilson was also a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Dundee East
Dundee East (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Elections in the 1970s:-Elections in the 1950s:...
constituency from 1974 to 1987, when he lost to John McAllion
John McAllion
John McAllion is a former Labour Party convener of Tayside Regional Council, Member of Parliament and Member of the Scottish Parliament , and a campaigner for Oxfam in Scotland...
of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Wilson's leadership was characterised by mixed fortunes. He was leader in the early 1980s when the party was in internal turmoil, and he was a key mover in proscribing both Siol nan Gaidheal
Siol nan Gaidheal
-Name:The name, properly spelled Sìol nan Gàidheal is Scottish Gaelic for Seed of the Gaels. The term sìol has numerous meanings, most commonly translated as "breed, brood, lineage, progeny, seed"....
and the 79 Group
79 Group
The 79 Group was an internal faction within the Scottish National Party , named after the fact that it was formed in 1979. The group sought to persuade the SNP to take an active left-wing stance, arguing that it would win more support, and were highly critical of the established SNP leaders...
. He also led the party through two poor general election performances in 1983
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
and 1987
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
. However, a highlight of his leadership was the Govan
Glasgow Govan (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Govan was a parliamentary constituency in the Govan district of Glasgow. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 2005, returning one Member of Parliament elected by the first-past-the-post system.The area which the constituency...
by-election victory in 1988
Glasgow Govan by-election, 1988
The Glasgow Govan by-election, in the British House of Commons constituency of Glasgow Govan, Scotland, was held on 10 November 1988. It was caused by the resignation of Bruce Millan as Member of Parliament for the constituency....
.
Wilson attempted to involve the SNP in the Scottish Constitutional Convention
Scottish Constitutional Convention
The Scottish Constitutional Convention was an association of Scottish political parties, churches and other civic groups, that developed a framework for a Scottish devolution. It is credited as having paved the way for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.The Convention was...
but due to the convention's unwillingness to contemplate discussions about Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
as a constitutional option the SNP did not get involved.
Wilson can be characterised as a SNP Fundamentalist
SNP fundamentalist
The fundamentalist ideology within the Scottish National Party is the belief that the SNP should emphasise its policy of Scottish independence more widely in order to achieve it...
, although more of the old style rather than the new breed who tend to be firmly on the left of the party, with Wilson being more moderate in opinion. Recently Wilson has been seen as an embarrassment to elected members of the SNP for repeatedly airing his views against same-sex marriage.
Before his successes in electoral politics, Wilson was "Controller General" for a time of the political pirate station Radio Free Scotland
Radio Free Scotland
Between 1956-1965 Radio Free Scotland broadcast through the sound channel of BBC television after God Save the Queen finished in the evening, and, later on, on 262 metres medium wave on the radio....
.
Some of Gordon Wilson's papers are now held by Archive Services at the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
.