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The Independent
an hour ago
- Business
- The Independent
Scottish city to charge visitors in bid to fund public services
Glasgow has approved a new tourist tax, becoming the second Scottish city to implement such a levy after Edinburgh. The visitor levy will charge tourists an additional five per cent on their accommodation bills, estimated to average £4.83 per night. The tax is projected to generate £16 million annually, with funds allocated to Glasgow's infrastructure projects, events, and public services. Following an 18-month implementation phase required by national legislation, the levy is expected to be rolled out by January 2027 at the earliest. The decision received cross-party support from the SNP, Labour, Greens, and Conservatives, following a public consultation.
STV News
3 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
Spectator
4 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.
The National
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
SNP MSP Fergus Ewing to stand as independent in Holyrood election
In a statement, the 67-year-old said it 'wasn't an easy decision' for him to come to the decision to stand as an independent, ending more than 50 years of association with the SNP. Ewing said he feared he's seen Scottish Parliament 'at its worst' in recent years and expressed concern about the SNP's direction, going on to accusing the party of 'deserting many of the people whose causes we used to champion.' READ MORE: Kate Forbes pledges to 'leave no stone unturned' to help save Alexander Dennis jobs The former rural affairs secretary also branded the power-sharing deal with the Greens a 'strategic blunder'. 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'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.' (Image: Jane Barlow) Ewing has previously disagreed with his fellow party members on several policy issues, including gender recognition reforms and support for the oil and gas industry. He described Holyrood as 'more fractious and tribal than ever before' and said 'too much power rests unchecked in the hands of party leaders'. Ewing added: '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.' SNP Leader John Swinney said he 'regrets' Ewing's decision to leave the party, adding that he commended him on all that he had achieved while serving in the Scottish Government. (Image: PA) He 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.'
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Time to end Sheriffhall roundabout saga
Miles Briggs MSP As anyone who has used the Edinburgh City by-pass will know, the road is often at gridlock and has become a wholly inadequate ring-road for the Capital. 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... I have been campaigning with my colleagues to improve it my entire parliamentary career and continue to make the case for infrastructure investment for Lothian. One of the most notorious hotspots for congestion is the Sheriffhall roundabout. Failing a broader upgrade of the A720, my latest effort has been to press SNP Ministers to finally address this disastrous aspect of the Bypass, if nothing else. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When the roundabout was being constructed 40 years ago, many people, including those involved in the original design, some of whom I have met, made it clear that a roundabout was not appropriate for a road of this size and would inevitably cause congestion. Sheriffhall roundabout heading west. Picture: Ian Georgeson An upgrade to the junction was first flagged as a priority by the Strategic Transport Projects Review in 2008, some 17 years ago. It then took the SNP Government a decade to commit to the funding. The proposed solution, a flyover separating local and through-traffic, was eventually allocated £120m in 2018. It promised smoother and safer journeys for Edinburgh and the surrounding region. In the seven years since and after more than £6m spent on consultations, not a single spade has hit the ground to alleviate the time, money and pollution being needlessly wasted in traffic every day. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Much of the delay was caused by Green party lobbying, which brought the project to a halt in 2020. Branding the much-needed upgrade a 'spaghetti junction', the Greens rallied their supporters to submit more than 2700 objections. These represented 97 per cent of the total objections submitted against the project. As my fellow Lothian MSP Sue Webber pointed out last week, the Greens have been allowed to stop a planned and funded project single handedly. What damage this has down to our local and national economy needs to be recognised. Sadly this was not the first time we have seen the tail wag the dog in the SNP-Green relationship and I suspect it won't be the last. It isn't clear to me how hours of stationary traffic and drivers opting to cut through the city to avoid that congestion, is better for our environment than cleanly flowing traffic, confined to the outskirts of the city. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nonetheless, the public inquiry into this matter pushed ministerial approval back yet again. A decision was expected a year ago, yet it remains under 'active consideration' according to the SNP. Twelve months without a decision is not consideration, it's procrastination. I held a debate in Parliament on this issue last week, having launched an online campaign the week before. I am glad that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop has now agreed to meet with a cross-party group on this going forward but as expected, the Scottish Government would not assure me that a decision would be made before the 2026 election. Please get involved and sign my Sheriffhall campaign by visiting Next week will also see the council by-election take place in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward following the death of Cllr Val Walker. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It has been a pleasure to meet with many local residents while I've been out and about with local Scottish Conservative candidate, Mark Hooley who has been working alongside local Cllr Christopher Cowdy and who would make a fantastic addition to the City Council. Miles Briggs, Conservative MSP for Lothian
