Latest news with #FergusEwing
STV News
5 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
6 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.
Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
SNP veteran quits party amid rebellion against leader
John Swinney, the Scottish First Minister, has been dealt a blow to his leadership after an SNP veteran quit the party. Fergus Ewing, who has represented the Inverness and Nairn constituency since 1999, will stand as an independent candidate at next year's Holyrood elections. The 67-year-old accused the SNP of having 'deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion' amid rumours of a wider revolt. SNP rebels are said to be plotting to oust Mr Swinney following the party's disastrous defeat at the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. That contest saw Scottish Labour take the seat from the SNP, while Nigel Farage's Reform UK came third. The rebels are also reportedly concerned that Mr Swinney has failed to advance the cause for Scottish independence, and have not ruled out a leadership challenge at the party's October conference. On Friday, opposition politicians claimed Mr Ewing's decision was a hammer blow to Mr Swinney's credibility. 'It speaks volumes about John Swinney and the SNP's appalling failures in government that even nationalist royalty is prepared to twist the knife in this way,' said Edward Mountain, the Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP. 'By standing as an independent, Fergus Ewing has made it clear he simply cannot defend his party's record to voters while out on the campaign trail.' Mr Ewing said he had taken the decision to abandon the SNP '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 had been increasingly at odds with the SNP over gender recognition reform and net zero, also raising issues over the deposit return scheme and marine protected areas. Mr Ewing said Holyrood was more fractious and tribal than ever before and accused the SNP of having 'lost its way'. He also said devolution was 'letting Scotland's people down'. He added: '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. Choosing the pliant over the talented.' 'Faithful servant' Mr Ewing first hinted in March that he could stand as an independent at next year's election. At the time, Mr Swinney said that he was sorry to learn of the possibility, describing him as a 'faithful servant' of his constituents who had contributed much to the Scottish Parliament. Mr Ewing is the son of Winnie Ewing, whose 1967 by-election victory in Hamilton was a historic breakthrough for the SNP, and is the brother of Annabelle Ewing, the Cowdenbeath MSP. He was first elected to the Scottish Parliament when it was re-established in 1999 and held a ministerial portfolio for 14 years in the governments of both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Ewing 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.'
STV News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
'Ludicrous' policies kicked SNP independence dream into long grass, says Ewing
Veteran MSP Fergus Ewing says 'ludicrous' policies linked to the SNP's coalition with the Greens set back the party's long-term dream of achieving independence. Speaking to STV News after announcing he will stand as an independent at next year's Holyrood elections, Ewing said it 'wasn't an easy decision' but he felt the party had 'deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion'. Ewing, 67, has represented Inverness and Nairn for the SNP since 1999, but party rules state that membership ceases when a member plans to stand against the party. He said: 'Just for the avoidance of doubt, I haven't left the SNP. It's up to them to decide whether or not they want to do anything about [my membership].' Ewing said he has 'wrestled with his conscious' for a long time out of loyalty to the party and the First Minister. Ultimately, he said he couldn't reconcile his values with the party's current direction. Ewing said he began to have doubts about the direction of the SNP in the latter years of Nicola Sturgeon's government when he said he had to 'bite his tongue quite seriously'. He claims people feel 'scunnered' with the government, and 'let down by the Scottish Parliament that they still very much support'. Ewing added the SNP has 'ceased to be champions for the people of Scotland'. Describing the Greens as a 'fringe' party with 'really extreme socialist policies', Ewing said: 'It was really the fatal deal with the Greens, which unravelled fairly quickly, that really caused me to have serious doubts. Perhaps I've wrestled with them for too long.' He added: 'Why we have focused away into side issues like who should use which toilet just completely baffles me, as I believe it baffles the majority of people in Inverness, Nairn, and Scotland as a whole.' As a result, Ewing believes that trust in the party has been eroded, which the SNP needs to rebuild. 'Independence is in my DNA and I believe that's the ultimate aim for Scotland,' Ewing said. 'You do not want a divided country, and I'm afraid what we have at the moment is a divided country, and the economy is a matter of managed decline,' Ewing said. Ewing said there needs to be a 'relentless focus' on the economy, public service reform, and a focus on righting the NHS over the next ten years to 'win back that trust and confidence'. He added: 'That creates circumstances where people are ready to move to a new chapter of independence,' Ewing said. 'We're nowhere near that now, and there's no point in me trying to deny it.' 'But I'm afraid that's the SNP over the last few years – trying to deny the fact that we've eroded that trust by supporting a whole series of unaffordable, undeliverable, impracticable, and frankly at times ludicrous policies mostly imported from the Green party. 'And we still haven't got rid of that Green legacy. It's still there hanging over us.' Ewing may have blamed Sturgeon's deal with the Scottish Greens for 'most of the problems that we've seen for the SNP over the last four years', but he insisted his decision is not personal. Despite his issues with the direction of the SNP, Ewing said he would not be drawn into fighting against 'any particular individual politician or party'. 'I'm fighting for a better Parliament, and to stand up for the people in Inverness and Nairn who have stood by me, as I hope I have stood by them for 26 years,' he said. 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
8 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?
