Muriel Gibson (politician)

Margaret Muriel Gibson (29 November 1912 – 22 October 2005), known as Muriel Gibson, was a Scottish nationalist politician.

Born in Glasgow, Gibson attended the High School for Girls, before working in Glasgow City Council's Education Department.^[1] She joined the National Party of Scotland in 1932,^[2] and then the Scottish National Party (SNP) on its formation, and was briefly detained at the start of World War II on account of her membership.^[1] In later life, she claimed to have been kept under surveillance for several years;^[3] however, she went on to serve in the Voluntary Aid Detachment and then the Women's Royal Army Corps in Africa, Germany and Italy.^[4] Although she left at the end of the conflict, she soon rejoined and eventually rose to Lieutenant-Colonel:^[1] the second-highest rank of any woman in the British Army at the time.^[5]

Back in civilian life, Gibson worked for Ferranti and the Red Cross before becoming organising secretary of the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society. She also served two stints as National Secretary of the SNP, and stood unsuccessfully for the party at the 1970 UK general election in Edinburgh West.^[1]

References

1. ""Lieutenant-Colonel Muriel Gibson". The Scotsman. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
2. Arnold Kemp, Confusion to our Enemies, p.83
3. Keith Webb, The Growth of Nationalism in Scotland, p.13
4. Casely, Gordon (4 November 2005). "Muriel Gibson Soldier, nationalist and country dancer". The Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
5. Wilson, Gordon. SNP: The Turbulent Years. p. 103.