John McAteer

John McAteer (5 January 1933 – 22 February 1977) was a Scottish politician who was a leading figure in the Scottish National Party of the 1960s and 1970s.

Formative years

McAteer was the eldest of three children. His parents, Unity Begley and James McAteer, were Irish immigrants from the Fanad peninsula, County Donegal. She goes on to say: "... my agent, John McAteer, a descendant of an Irish rebel, was totally splendid in the job." Gordon Wilson: "Under the direction of John McAteer... there was a taut, well-organised campaign supported by thousands of supporters."

George Leslie: "We had to take the good points from the Pollok campaign and make them better. The most important person in all of this was John McAteer, who was Winnie's election agent and, later, national organiser. There was a plan in Hamilton." The organisation on the ground was formidable. "Again, it was John McAteer."

Hugh MacDonald: "John was the architect of the organisational and political strategy that shattered the Labour establishment with in its fortress of Hamilton. In terms of sheer professionalism it was the finest piece of organisation and deployment of forces that the National Party has witnessed."

SNP National Organiser

He served as National Organiser for the SNP from 1968 until his death in 1977. During this period, the SNP saw sustained growth, culminating in the return of 7 Westminster MPs in the 1974 General Election. Also notable during this time was Margo MacDonald's victory in the Govan by-election in 1973.

As National Organiser he drove across Scotland to visit local party branches and received significant annual mileage reimbursements.

Illness and death Initially misdiagnosed with lower back pain,