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The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Fergus Ewing's Break with the SNP Explained:
SNP family legacy Fergus Ewing, the long-serving SNP MSP for Inverness and Nairn, has confirmed he will stand as an independent candidate in the 2026 Holyrood election. Mr Ewing's ties to the Scottish National Party run deep — he was, as he has said before, 'literally born into the SNP'. His mother, the late Winnie Ewing, is a party legend, famously winning the 1967 Hamilton by-election — a breakthrough moment for the SNP — and reconvening the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as its eldest member. Politics is a family affair for Mr Ewing. His sister, Annabelle Ewing, is also an SNP MSP, while his late wife, Margaret Ewing, served as an MP and MSP for the party between the 1970s and early 2000s. Winnie Ewing with Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon (Image: PA) Long-serving MSP and minister Mr Ewing has represented the Highlands in Holyrood since the first elections in 1999 — initially for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, and, since 2011, for its successor seat, Inverness and Nairn. He spent 14 years in government, serving under both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, with portfolios ranging from community safety and tourism to energy and rural affairs. His final ministerial post was Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy. Despite his loyal service, Mr Ewing has long had an independent streak — something he says voters appreciate. 'Frankly, if they wanted a doormat, they'd have gone to B&Q.' Fergus Ewing in Holyrood's ministerial lift. Clashes, controversy and confidence votes In recent years, Mr Ewing's willingness to speak out has led to open conflict with SNP leadership. He was a vocal critic of the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens, calling it a 'strategic blunder'. He also opposed several high-profile policies, including: The Deposit Return Scheme A proposed ban on new gas boilers Plans to designate 10% of Scotland's seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) He famously ripped up an HPMA consultation document in parliament, calling it a 'notice of execution' for the fishing industry. Fergus Ewing ripping up the HPMA consultation (Image: NQ) In 2022, he voted against gender recognition reforms, defying the party whip. The breaking point came in 2023, when he supported a no-confidence motion against Green minister Lorna Slater, resulting in a one-week suspension from the SNP group. Mr Ewing remained unapologetic: 'The SNP I joined would never have asked me… to choose between loyalty to party and loyalty to constituents.' He criticised what he called a culture of 'sourness and hostility' in the party and accused the leadership of preferring 'obedient and pliant' candidates. The road to standing as an independent In March 2025, Mr Ewing announced he would not seek re-selection as an SNP candidate, citing the party's broken promises on dualling the A9 and A96. 'I cannot, with honour, stand up in front of my constituents and say I am standing as an SNP candidate,' he said. He accused the SNP of deserting key voter groups, including farmers, fishermen and North Sea oil workers. On June 20, Mr Ewing confirmed he would run as an independent in the 2026 election. 'This has not been an easy decision,' he said, 'but I love the people of Inverness and Nairn more than my party.' He called for Holyrood to move beyond partisan bickering and return to 'its best'. A High-Profile Showdown Mr Ewing will now face off against his own party. The SNP has selected Highlands and Islands list MSP Emma Roddick to contest the seat. First Minister John Swinney expressed 'deep regret' over Mr Ewing's decision, saying he had the option to stand again. While Mr Ewing insists he has not formally quit the SNP, party sources say standing as an independent constitutes a public resignation — a breach of Article 4.4 of the party's constitution, which states that membership ceases upon death, resignation, or failure to pay dues. In 2021, Mr Ewing won 47.7% of the vote in Inverness and Nairn, securing a 9,114-vote majority over Conservative candidate Sir Edward Mountain. Emma Roddick outside Parliament Regardless of what happens next May, Mr Ewing looks set to remain a thorn in the side of the SNP. Deborah Anderson Andrew Learmonth; Kathleen Nutt; Hannah Brown; Rebecca McCurdy Catherine Salmond; Derek McArthur Hello, Would it not be easier for us to have this as a live banner though that we can ask people to attach to their files? Deborah Andrew Learmonth Kathleen Nutt; Hannah Brown; Rebecca McCurdy Deborah Anderson; Catherine Salmond undefined 60% of recipients have opened this mail. undefined Hello, Can we start adding this source code to the bottom of every politics article? It will bring up an advert and a link to Unspun Live. To add it you need to click this button on Martini. That will take you into HTML mode. And then scroll down to the bottom of the article and then copy and paste the code below. If you click on the source button again you should be able to see if it's worked. @Deborah Anderson Can we get colleagues to do this when they're working on politics tales?
Spectator
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Ewing snubs SNP ahead of Holyrood election
With less than 11 months to go until the Holyrood election, things aren't looking quite as rosy for the SNP as in previous elections. The party is 15 points down on where it was 2021, it lost the recent Hamilton by-election with Reform hot on its heels and now it has been dealt another blow. SNP veteran Fergus Ewing has confirmed that he will run as an independent at the 2026 Scottish parliament election, turning his back on a political institution he has represented in Holyrood for over a quarter of a century. It's quite the move from a politician who grew up as SNP royalty, being the son of the party's first female MP Winnie Ewing. His mother's victory in the 1967 Hamilton by-election signalled a breakthrough for Scottish nationalists; Ewing's departure from the party may indicate a rather different kind of pivot. Ewing has represented the constituents of Inverness and Nairn since 1999 but in March this year said he would not stand for the SNP in 2026. Today he confirmed that he will still pursue a career in frontline politics, but this time he will stand against the party he grew up in. The SNP is 'no longer the party for all of Scotland', the 67-year-old lamented. He accused Scotland's party of government for having 'deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion' and added: 'I believe the SNP has lost its way and that devolution itself – presently – is letting Scotland's people down. Holyrood is more fractious and tribal than ever before.' The MSP has been an ardent critic of the nationalists in recent years, with Nicola Sturgeon's Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens a catalyst for his public disowning of the SNP. Vocal on issues including growth, infrastructure, women's rights and rural issues, much of what what the Greens stood for – with their relaxed attitude to growth, being avidly in favour of highly-protected marine areas at the expense of highland and island communities and backing gender reform – was anathema to Ewing. Indeed the writing has long been on the wall. Last April, in an interview with the The Spectator , he insisted his 'absolute red line' for his membership of the SNP was the dualling of the A9 and A96 in the north of Scotland. This project – which the SNP began planning for almost 20 years ago – has still not been completed. Ewing was a frequent disrupter during Humza Yousaf's premiership – and eventually got himself suspended after he voted against the government during a no-confidence vote in then-junior minister and Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater. Not that Ewing is in any way embarrassed by the scraps he has found himself in with his own party over the years. 'I think democracy needs an awkward squad,' he told The Spectator. 'I won on the DRS [Deposit Return Scheme], I won on HPMAs [Highly Protected Marine Areas], I won on heat pumps, I won on gender reforms – although people like Joanna Cherry were leading the running. And I've won on getting the Greens out of government.' And the Nairn MSP has never been shy about his disapproval of the progressive direction the SNP has moved in recent years. He sums up his approach to politics: 'Am I an Inverness man in Holyrood? Or am I an SNP apologist in Inverness?' He backed now-deputy FM Kate Forbes for the leadership as an admirer of her own religious background and socially conservative views. In the days when pro-independence party Alba was a little more vocal, Ewing suggested that it was only Forbes who would be able to heal the wounds of the Yes movement, and bring pro-indy supporters back into the fold. Perhaps – if he's successful next year – Forbes will ensure he's not entirely excluded from the fold. Of course this depends firstly on whether Ewing's bid is successful. It's hard to run and win as an independent candidate – although famously Margo McDonald proved it could be done after the SNP. And after winning his constituents' trust in every single Holyrood election since the creation of the Scottish parliament, Ewing might just manage it.
STV News
a day 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
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Waste not, want not at Millerhill
Inside FCC Environment's Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre For once a pat on the back for Edinburgh Council for having the foresight to invest in the Millerhill incinerator, along with Midlothian Council, so less than five per cent of waste goes to landfill. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The plant turns waste into electricity and in due course will be able to supply heat for homes in the emerging Shawfair district. According to the council, landfill is only used for items too big to burn or when the plant is closed for maintenance. Alas, a BBC investigation this week revealed that when a Scottish Government landfill ban is imposed at the end of the year, there won't be the incinerator capacity to cope, so up to 100 lorries a day will be taking Scottish waste to English landfill sites as far away as Manchester ─ some 600,000 tonnes a year ─ if enough trucks can be found. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's not as if this should come as a shock, because they have had four years to get ready because the ban was originally due to be introduced in 2021 but was delayed by Covid. Just like the botched Deposit Return Scheme, the SNP's attention to detail is sadly lacking and the preparation for idealistic policy impositions simply isn't good enough. We might even have the situation when trucks of waste heading for landfill in Northumberland are trundling past Millerhill as it works to capacity. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, in the SNP's Scotland it's the only one with no potholes.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Tullamore records ‘exceptional' result in Irish anti-litter league survey
The recently published report ranked 40 towns and cities nationwide from the cleanest to the most littered, describing Tullamore as 'exceptional' and 'cleaner than European norms'. An excellent approach route in terms of presentation and maintenance was mentioned on the Arden Road/R421. The R443 Link Road received a grade A rating, with road surfacing, marking, signage and bollards freshly presented along the route. Some cigarette butts were mentioned in terms of litter, however the area directly outside the school was particularly clear. The report states: 'Examples of top ranking sites included 'Tullamore Food Fayre' at Kilcruttin Business Park, Main Street and Grand Canal Way at Lock 27 – the latter is a lovely waterside environment where further enhancement works are taking place.' The Deposit Return Scheme outside Lidl also received a Grade A with no litter in the immediate environment, along with Clonmich Approach Road and main street. The ground, just in front of the facility was dirty, 'perhaps from surplus/spilt liquids', whilst some versions of the Deposit Return Scheme have a 'surplus liquid' feature. The report noted litter close to the entrance at Tullamore Train Station, along the paving, at the base of the bicycle parking. Items were primarily food related, with some cigarette butts and train tickets. There was also reported litter at Bridge Lane, with cigarette butts, lower levels of broken glass, sweet papers and chewing gum. Graffiti was very much a feature on several surfaces, included a stretch of colourful wall mural. O'Connor Square was described as looking 'very well with lovely paving', tree planting and wooden seating. However, notable cigarette butting knocked the square from a top ranking site to a B+ qualification.
