Ireland has lost one if its greats in John Hume – Angus Robertson

Together with David Trimble he was one of the main architects of the Northern Ireland peace process and as a result became the only ever winner of all three of the world’s great peace prizes: Nobel Peace Prize, Gandhi Peace Prize and Martin Luther King Award. He was held in the highest esteem in Ireland being voted ‘Ireland’s Greatest’ in a public poll organised by Irish broadcaster RTÉ to find the greatest person in Irish history.

Hume was also connected with Scotland as the descendant of a Scots presbyterian immigrant and through his 25-year friendship with past SNP President Winnie Ewing in the European Parliament and with SNP colleagues at Westminster.

Emerging from the civil rights movement in Derry, John Hume went on to help form the Social Democratic and Labour Party in the pursuit of non-violent politics.

First elected to the Northern Ireland parliament in 1969 he went on to be elected a decade later to the European Parliament in the same year he became SDLP leader. In 1983 he was first returned to Westminster as an MP and like Winnie Ewing, is one of the few people to serve in three legislatures. Together with ‘Madam Ecosse’ in Brussels they co-sponsored a budget line for lesser used languages including Gaelic and Scots. Winnie’s eventual retirement was marked by a video from her friend John Hume as well as Sean Connery.

In her autobiography Stop the World Winnie Ewing recalls spending an evening with John and Pat Hume at their Derry home and remarked on them living “with constant tension but did so with great bravery and equanimity”.

He used his position to help bring Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin into talks, eventually leading to their part in the Good Friday Agreement. Without his bravery and similar challenges faced by David Trimble, the breakthrough agreement simply could not have been reached.

Speaking about his own role Hume said: “If thousands of soldiers in our streets can’t stop the violence, then if I can save one single human life by talking, it’s my duty to do so.”

Without doubt, there are many people who are still alive today because of his efforts. Hume was also passionate about European co-operation and believed that: “The EU is the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution.”

Leading the tributes was his successor as SDLP leader Colum Eastwood who said: “It is no exaggeration to say that each and every one of us now lives in the Ireland Hume imagined – an island at peace and free to decide its own destiny,” he said. “This is a historic moment on this island, but most of all it is a moment of deep, deep sadness. In the days ahead, Ireland will be united in mourning his loss”.

I spent a number of years in the House of Commons with John, sitting in an adjacent row, and enjoyed his company and contributions immensely. He was a kind and humble man.

Ireland has lost one of its greats and Scotland and Europe a good friend. RIP.