'ONE of the most influential figures in my life' — Nicola Sturgeon has today led tributes to former SNP MSP Kay Ullrich.

Other senior party figures praised Ullrich's strong personality, drive and dedication as they remembered theformer West of Scotland MSP.

Ullrich served from 1999-2003 after contesting numerous elections for the SNP.

The National:

News of the Dreghorn woman's death was broken to the Scottish Cabinet this morning.

Afterwards, John Swinney said on social media it had been "very poignant", hailing Ullrich as a "stalwart of the SNP and of independence".

Ullrich served as SNP chief whip in the first parliament to sit after Holyrood was reconvened.

Her friendship with Sturgeon began during the 1987 general election campaign, when then-16-year-old Sturgeon knocked on Ullrich's door and asked if she could help her fight for Westminster's Cunninghame South seat.

The National:

Ullrich, who lost that election to Labour, helped convince Sturgeon to become an SNP candidate in the subsequent General Election in 1992, and also predicted to activists: "This lady here will be the first female leader of the SNP one day."

In a 2014 interview with the Sunday Post, Ullrich, a former social worker, recalled that first meeting and said: "You could tell she was one for the future."

Sturgeon thanked Ullrich from the stage at the SNP's 2014 conference.

Today she said: "I’m devastated by this news. Kay was a dear friend and one of the most influential figures in my life. A lifelong advocate of independence, she was an SNP member for 55 years and a respected former MSP. I’ll miss her so much. My love to Grady, Shelley, John and her beloved grandkids."

Tributes were also paid by Fiona Hyslop, who called her "one of the most remarkable women I have ever met — passionate, feisty and sharp as a tack", and Michael Russell, who said she was "the brightest of stars".

Glasgow Councillor Ricky Bell said Ullrich had been his "Aunty Kay" and remembered sharing "the most amazing laughs" with her.