Page "Donald Dewar" Paragraph 9

Donald Dewar was selected for the seat Glasgow Garscadden by a majority of three, after Dewar's friend the veteran Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers MP Willie Small died unexpectedly.

He was returned at a by-election on 13 April 1978, an important victory which was seen as halting the rise of the Scottish National Party.

In Scotland's first referendum on devolution, held in March 1979, he campaigned for a " Yes " vote alongside the Conservative Alick Buchanan-Smith and the Liberal Russell Johnston.

Though they won a narrow majority, it fell short of the 40 per cent required, accelerating the fall of the Labour Government, in May 1979.