Latest news with #A9
STV News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Ewing's solo bid threatens to turn SNP stronghold into political battleground
Fergus Ewing's decision to stand as an independent in the Holyrood election next year doesn't come as a huge surprise. He has been hinting at this ever since he announced he wouldn't be standing for the SNP. Ewing has frequently been described as a thorn in the party's side in recent years. In fact, he has been a full bed of roses given the number of issues he has disagreed with them on – the deposit return scheme, gender reform, marine protected areas, the dualling of the A9 and A96. The Ewing name is of course steeped in SNP history. Fergus Ewing has been an MSP since 1999. He served as a government minister for 14 years. But now he is no longer a member of the party – he will sit as an independent backbencher at Holyrood for the rest of this parliamentary term. Then next year he will be taking on the SNP party machine in the election. That runs the risk for the SNP of splitting their vote, and allowing a challenger to squeeze through the middle and take what has been a safe seat. So the Fergus Ewing headache looks set to continue for some time yet for the SNP. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
SNP loses its shine with Fergus Ewing exit
The Ewings, all three of them – Winnie, her daughter Annabelle and, last but not least, her son Fergus – have always added lustre to the SNP and the cause of independence. The late Winnie, Madam Ecosse, all but invented it, at least in the modern era, by winning the Hamilton by-election in 1967 and then becoming the first presiding officer of the reformed Scottish Parliament in 1999. Her daughter has been a minister in several departments, and became a deputy presiding officer of the Holyrood Parliament, and Fergus became – well, just Fergus. He was always his own man, the epitome of the bloke who goes his own way, no matter what. He has now announced that he's had it with the nit-picking, daft policy-loving comrades who even tried to have him chucked out of the party he's spent all of his adult life supporting. And he's going his own way. I'll admit I've never agreed with his continued support for independence, a policy that would have beggared his country. But he was a man of principle who accepted that politicians of different stripes had principles, too. And while they could be challenged, they should not be insulted. Above all, he saw his first duty was to his Highland constituents. He put their need for decent, safe roads at the top of his agenda – especially the dualling of the A9, widely known as Britain's 'killer road' because of crashes. And he didn't want to see fishing communities devastated by supposed green policies aimed at protecting the environment, no matter the human cost. If there was one issue that alienated Fergus Ewing more than most from the SNP, it was Nicola Sturgeon's ill-fated coalition with the ultra-left Scottish Greens. He fought their policies tooth and nail, and rightly declared that most of them were opposed by a majority of the electorate. Nowhere was this more evident than in the Sturgeon/Scottish Greens plan to rewrite society's views on gender. It was a battle in which Ewing was ultimately on the winning side. I'm certain that he has not taken this decision to stand as an independent in next May's Scottish Parliament election lightly. After all, he will almost certainly be standing against an SNP candidate and even at this distance, the arithmetic looks like being very tight. His long-time party will throw everything at him to keep 'his' Inverness and Nairn seat, which they've always held. I'll probably be wrong – I usually am with predictions – but my tenner is on Fergus Ewing holding on against the odds.
The Herald Scotland
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Fergus Ewing quits SNP to run as independent in 2026
The veteran MSP and former minister said his decision was 'not an easy one' but was driven by disillusionment with the direction of his party and the state of the Scottish Parliament. READ MORE Mr Ewing said his old party had "deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion". 'I have taken [the decision to stand as an independent] because I love the people of Inverness and Nairn and the people of Scotland more than my party, which I have been in for more than half a century,' he said. 'I believe the SNP has lost its way and that devolution itself – presently – is letting Scotland's people down.' Mr Ewing, first elected in 1999, served for 14 years in ministerial roles under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. In recent years, however, he has become one of the SNP's most vocal critics, repeatedly challenging the party on key policies, including its stance on North Sea oil and gas, delays to dualling the A9 and A96, the proposed deposit return scheme, gender recognition reform, and plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas. He was suspended from the SNP Holyrood group in 2023 after voting against then Green minister Lorna Slater in a motion of no confidence, defying party whips. In March this year, he announced he would not seek selection as an SNP candidate, warning the party was 'no longer the party for all of Scotland'. In a statement confirming his bid to run as an independent, Mr Ewing criticised what he described as the increasingly 'fractious and tribal' nature of the Scottish Parliament and the centralisation of power within party structures. 'Too much power rests unchecked in the hands of party leaders, free to choose candidates who will slavishly support them, rather than stand up for the people who sent them to Holyrood,' he said. 'Choosing the pliant over the talented.' He added: 'It's time for Holyrood to live up to the high expectations people rightly held for it, when my mother, Winnie, reconvened our own Parliament in 1999. It came of age some years ago – surely now it's time for it to grow up.' Mr Ewing urged politicians in the main parties to work together "whether in a grand coalition or a less formal arrangement" to reform public services and maximise economic growth. In recent months, he has argued that party leaders have prioritised loyalty over competence in candidate selection. 'The party machine has become too all-powerful,' he said in an interview last month. 'Candidates who may be suitable from the party point of view – in other words, obedient and pliant – but perhaps not what the people want.' Earlier this year, Mr Ewing faced speculation that he could be barred from standing for the SNP again, with reports suggesting the party's internal vetting process had flagged concerns over his repeated public criticism of government policy. Although he ultimately passed vetting, the episode fuelled tensions within the party. Former cabinet secretary Alex Neil said any move to deselect Mr Ewing would have triggered 'a massive revolt from both the public and within the party', describing him as 'one of the most effective MSPs in Scotland'. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, a close ally of Mr Ewing, also intervened in the row, urging the SNP to consider his 'long-standing contribution' to the party and its values.
STV News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
SNP MSP Fergus Ewing to stand as independent in Scottish Parliament election
SNP MSP Fergus Ewing has announced he will stand as an independent candidate at next year's Holyrood election. Ewing has served as the constituency MSP for Inverness and Nairn since 1999 and is seeking election for the seventh time, ending over 50 years of association with the SNP. In a personal statement, the 67-year-old said it 'wasn't an easy decision', expressing concern about the SNP's direction and accusing the party of 'deserting many of the people whose causes we used to champion.' Ewing, who previously served as rural affairs secretary in government, also branded the power-sharing deal with the Greens a 'strategic blunder'. He cited delays to the dualling of the A9 from Perth to Inverness and A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness as a key factor in his decision to leave the party. Ewing's statement read: 'I have seen the Scottish Parliament at its best and its worst. I fear in recent years it has been at its worst. 'This has not been an easy decision. I have taken it because I love the people of Inverness and Nairn and the people of Scotland more than my party which I have been in for more than half a century. 'I believe the SNP has lost its way and that devolution itself – presently – is letting Scotland's people down. It doesn't need to be this way.' Ewing has previously disagreed with the party on several policy issues, including gender recognition reforms, the Deposit Return Scheme, and its level of support for the oil and gas sector. In 2023, he voted against Green minister Lorna Slater in a no-confidence motion, defying party whips and leading to his temporary suspension from the SNP group at Holyrood. Ewing described Holyrood as 'more fractious and tribal than ever before' and said 'too much power rests unchecked in the hands of party leaders'. He called for greater cooperation between Scotland's main political parties to tackle major challenges including economic instability, high energy costs, and public service reform. 'Ordinary people accept that they must work together in their own workplace – with everyone – whether they choose them as friends and allies or not,' his statement continued. 'It's time for politicians to do what the people customarily do – to work together for the interests of the nation. 'In short: It's time for Holyrood to grow up.' Ewing is the son of Winnie Ewing, whose victory in the 1967 Hamilton by-election marked a significant milestone for the SNP. He is the brother of Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing. He was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, when it was reconvened, and went on to serve as a minister for 14 years under both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. SNP Leader John Swinney said: 'It was with real sadness and deep regret that I heard of Fergus Ewing's decision to leave the Scottish National Party. 'We have both served the SNP and the cause of independence for many years, and I commend him for all that he achieved while serving in the SNP Government until 2021. 'Fergus had the option of standing at the forthcoming election for the SNP, given his status as an approved candidate. He chose not to accept that opportunity and I regret that he has ultimately decided instead to leave the party. 'The SNP approaches the 2026 election ahead in the polls, with growing support for independence, and I am looking forward to taking our positive, ambitious vision for Scotland's future to the people.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Why is Labour holding back? Is it willing the SNP to fail?
It's almost as if they want the SNP to fail, rather than reap the benefits of showing them and the electorate how it's done. That's if they are actually up to the task. Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven. The problem with Sturgeon So, when Holywood actor Rupert Everett criticises Nicola Sturgeon's handling of the arts as parochial and damaging, labelling her a "witch", Ms Sturgeon's intellectually lazy response is to claim he's misogynistic ("Sturgeon accuses Everett of misogyny", The Herald, June 16). Surely she must be posturing and realises that next to no-one cares that she's a woman? My problem with Ms Sturgeon has nothing to do with her sex and everything to do with her protracted mismanagement of Scotland's public services (think growing NHS waiting times, an increasing educational attainment gap, escalating drug deaths, the ferry procurement fiasco, an undualled A9, all accompanied by soaring taxation) and her divisive obsession with nationalist dogma. Martin Redfern, Melrose. Read more letters England £40bn, Scotland £200m On June 11 the BBC News website reported that to date the UK Government has pledged £17.8 billion towards the construction of the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk. The project is being funded by UK Treasury borrowing. As a consequential of this borrowing a total of £1.513bn will be included within future Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures as this country's "share" of the total amount being borrowed. This is despite the fact that no nuclear power stations are being built in Scotland. Indeed, Scotland already produces a surplus of electricity and people living in the north-east will soon be treated to the sight of massive pylons being constructed throughout their area to carry this surplus power to our southern neighbours. On June 12 the UK Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, stated that a total of £200 million would be allocated to fund the proposed Acorn carbon capture project at St Fergus. While this very long-overdue announcement of funding from Mr Miliband is to be welcomed, it pales into absolute insignificance when compared to the £21.7bn over 25 years to support carbon capture projects in the north-east and north-west of England. As these projects are being funded through UK Treasury borrowing, Scotland will also be given an allocated "share" of the consequential debt for them when its future GERS figures are published. The combined funding bill for these projects in England totals (so far) £39.5bn. Scottish taxpayers – present and future – will be required to pay their share of the money borrowed to build them. It has to be asked if people living in Scotland consider that £200m for the Acorn Project at St Fergus has been a fair deal when placed against the many billions already set aside for carbon capture in north-east and north-west England? During last week's BBC Scotland Debate Night programme the subject of the UK Government's Spending Review was discussed. Scottish actor Brian Cox said: "For Starmer, everything is about England." Given the situation related to the Acorn Project it is difficult not to concur with that particular opinion. Jim Finlayson, Banchory. • Scotland has its ferries, but every now and then we are reminded that we Scots are total amateurs when it comes to scandalous wastes of public money. That a door would cost £10 million is astonishing, but for it to then not work is beyond comprehension ("New House of Lords front door that cost almost £10 million does not work", heraldscotland, June 16). However it's for the Ruritanian House of Lords, so that's OK then. The entire Palace of Westminster is scheduled for a complete refurbishment which may cost an eye-watering £26bn (or probably more). Repeat, Twenty-six billion pounds. I hope Scotland has the good sense to become a self-governing country long before the bills for that nonsense drop through the letterbox. Does the £10m door have a letterbox? Probably not, as a flunky in stockings, garters and a wig will be available to bring the mail to 'our betters'. GR Weir, Ochiltree. We should follow China Mike Flinn (Letters, June 11) criticises John Swinney for not having 'a basic grasp of maths', so I hope he wasn't listening to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on June 12, the day after the Chancellor's Spending Review. If he was, he'll have heard Rachel Reeves say that the UK's interest payment on its national debt is £100 million per year. An easy slip to make, as the true figure is an astonishing £105 billion. And given the extra borrowing unveiled, the BBC estimates that, by the end of the decade, the annual payment will have risen to £132bn; that's almost £2,000 for every woman, man and child. To put that in perspective, the Office of Budget Responsibility says that in 2024-25 spending on education was £89bn and on defence £38bn. Imagine how you could transform education and other areas of government spending if the Exchequer wasn't staggering under the burden of that debt mountain, but it can't be wished away. I understand the problem facing Ms Reeves and indeed all of us, and I'm pleased she emphasises the importance of investment to grow the economy. Only through growth can we raise the taxes to fund our public services and, hopefully but slowly, reduce our debt. However, it appears the bulk of the promised extra spending is going to health and defence, areas that are net consumers of resources rather than generators of wealth. Things aren't as bad as they were immediately after the Second World War, when the UK's public sector debt reached an astonishing 250% of GDP. The years after were tough, with debt repayments and the loss of the empire that had sent its riches back to the UK; but governments, both Labour and Conservative, managed to reduce debt to a manageable 50%, mainly through growth. However, since the global financial crisis of 2008, debt has skyrocketed and looks set to continue on a sharply upward trajectory. If the limited extra investment announced by the Chancellor doesn't produce great returns, we'll remain trapped in an upward spiral of debt. We all want better public services but we have to accept that they can't be turned round overnight. It's vital that government invests for the long term and restrains public spending in the interim. China is a supreme example of how long-term planning can transform an economy, but of course its leadership doesn't have to worry about elections. Doug Maughan, Dunblane. Nicola Sturgeon (Image: PA) Watch party promises closely We know things are bad when even the Labour Party is struggling to balance essential cuts to expenditure against popularity with voters. It's one of the features of democracy that when times are tough, the policies needed to address them will be unpopular with most of the electorate. We are a fickle lot and tend to vote for whichever party panders most to our self-interest – resulting in manifestos that tell us what they think most people want to hear. Once elected they then try and adapt those policies to the reality of the economic situation. U-turns aplenty. This does not however apply to the SNP, which relies on support from those who believe that the magic wand of independence is the solution to all our problems. The SNP can make attractive promises ignoring the fact that going down the independence path would only add to the complexity of our situation. Once elected in Holyrood the SNP then uses Westminster as a ready-made excuse for everything that it fails to deliver, citing lack of funds or "levers" as a cover for incompetence. In next year's Scottish election, the parties will be promising all sorts. Before deciding who to vote for, we should each judge how the prospect of them actually delivering their manifestos stacks up against the economic reality that deep down we know to be the case. One thing should be clear is that we should discount the party that relies on a magic wand it does not possess and has a ready-made excuse for failure. Mark Openshaw, Aberdeen.
