Billy Wolfe (politician)
Billy Wolfe | |
---|---|
Leader of the Scottish National Party | |
In office 1 June 1969 – 15 September 1979 | |
Preceded by | Arthur Donaldson |
Succeeded by | Gordon Wilson |
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party | |
In office 1966–1969 | |
Leader | Arthur Donaldson |
Preceded by | Sandy Milne |
Succeeded by | George Leslie |
Personal details | |
Born | William Cuthbertson Wolfe 22 February 1924 Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland |
Died | 18 March 2010 Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland | (aged 86)
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Spouses | Arna Dinwiddie
(m. 1953; div. 1989)Catherine McAteer (m. 1993) |
Children | 4 (1st marriage) |
Profession | Chartered accountant |
William Cuthbertson Wolfe (22 February 1924 – 18 March 2010) was a Scottish accountant, manufacturer and Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He was the National Convenor (leader) of the SNP from 1969 to 1979, playing a central role in the transformation of the SNP into a modern, progressive political movement, and in the development of the SNP's social democratic political philosophy.[1][2][3]
Background
Wolfe was born in
He later established his own business, Chieftain Forge Ltd (1964–1986), supplying and manufacturing forestry equipment and shovels. Billy Wolfe was a man of wide interests: a longstanding member of the
Political career
Wolfe joined the SNP in 1959.[2] He stood as the SNP candidate in the 1962 West Lothian by-election against Tam Dalyell, making a stunning impact by coming in second place in an area where the SNP had previously made little impact.[2] The result propelled him into party office as vice-chairman for Policy and Publicity in 1964, and then as Senior Vice-chairman (Deputy Leader) in 1966. Wolfe formed the Social and Economic Inquiry Society of Scotland, a forum committed to advancing the case for independence through statistical research. His idea of fusing the St Andrew's Cross with a thistle led to the creation of a distinctive new SNP logo, which is still in use today.[2][4] He played a central role in the development of party policy, writing an iconic policy statement, SNP and You, which radically changed the SNP's outlook, adapting the existing policy on decentralization to accommodate the social strains from ongoing deindustrialization.[4] Wolfe stood as SNP parliamentary candidate for West Lothian at the 1964, 1966, 1970, both elections in 1974, and 1979 general elections.[4]
In June 1969, at the SNP Annual National Conference in
It was during Wolfe's period as leader that the party had considerable electoral success in elections to the
In 1979, Wolfe encouraged a band of left-wingers in the SNP, known as the 79 Group, annoying those on the fundamentalist wing.[2][4] Although he was elected as president of the SNP in 1980, succeeding Robert McIntyre, Wolfe's term of office ended in June 1982, following an intervention by him in advance of the proposed visit of Pope John Paul II to Scotland, causing serious controversy by claiming the Pope represented an "alien culture".[2][4]
In a January 1982 letter to the
Personal life
William Wolfe married Arna Dinwiddie in 1953 and they had four children. They divorced in 1989. He married Catherine McAteer in 1993. The marriage lasted until his death.
He died at Udston Hospital, Hamilton in March 2010, aged 86.[2][10] Alex Salmond and Iain Gray were among the political leaders who offered their condolences. Salmond stated that Wolfe had "transformed it [the SNP] into a modern political party".[2]
Positions and commitments
- Treasurer, Saltire Society, 1953–1960
- West Lothian County Commissioner, Scout Association, 1960–1964
- Honorary President of Heriot-Watt University Students' Association, 1966–1969
- Member, Forestry Commission's National Committee for Scotland, 1974–1987
- Treasurer, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1982–1985
- Secretary, Scottish Poetry Library, 1985–1991
- Director, Eriskay Pony (Purebred) Studbook Society - Comann Each nan Eilean Ltd, 2002–2010
Publications
- Scotland Lives: the Quest for Independence, 1973
References
- ^ "Billy Wolfe: Obituary". The Independent. London, UK. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Veteran nationalist Billy Wolfe dies at 86". BBC News. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ Ritchie, Murray (21 March 2010). "Billy Wolfe obituary". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k [1] Gordon Wilson, Wolfe, William Cuthbertson (1924–2010), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press
- ^ "S.N.P. work on patching split at conference". The Glasgow Herald. 2 June 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Obituary: Billy Wolfe". Caledonian Mercury. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
- ^ "Nationalist chief retires in religious dispute", The Times (8 May 1982), p. 2.
- ^ David Torrance (11 September 2010). "Letters reveal SNP crisis over president's diatribes". The Times. London, UK. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ The Herald (20 March 2010). "William Wolfe; Politician and accountant". The Herald. Glasgow, Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "William Wolfe: Obituary". Herald Scotland. 20 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2010.