Latest news with #A96
The Herald Scotland
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Ewing: 'Who, hand on heart, can defend the SNP's record?'
'It's a sad day,' he said. 'Lots of professional friendships, loyalties made me think very carefully before coming to the conclusion that I did, but it is the right decision, and it isn't a rehearsal we're in. So we have to try and do the right thing.' READ MORE Mr Ewing, who has represented the Highlands since 1999, said he could no longer "defend the indefensible" and that he believed the SNP's record in government had become impossible to justify — particularly in relation to the A9 and A96. 'And these are not just policies on paper, but they're things which have seen people lose their lives on the roads simply because, unlike in the central belt, our roads lack central barriers to prevent head‑on collisions.' His decision sets up a high-profile contest with the SNP's Emma Roddick in Inverness and Nairn, where he is defending a majority of 9,114. Mr Ewing served in the governments of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, but in recent years became one of the SNP's most vocal internal critics. He was briefly suspended from the SNP Holyrood group in 2023 after voting against Green minister Lorna Slater in a motion of no confidence, defying party whips. Fergus Ewing outside Holyrood (Image: Colin D Fisher/ Mr Ewing accused the SNP of abandoning traditional supporters. 'They used to stand up for oil and gas workers, farmers, fishermen. Now they insult farmers, want to stop fishermen from fishing with no scientific basis, and claim to support oil workers while refusing to allow new drilling,' he said. 'The coalition with the Greens was, in my view, the final blow. 'Just look at the facts: we've lost three-quarters of our MPs, 65,000 members, and 10 to 15 percentage points in the polls. That's about a third of our support. Who, hand on heart, can defend that record, and yet, that's really what they're doing.' Asked why he had made the announcement now, he said he had been 'wrestling' with his conscience for 'perhaps too long.' 'I've been disgruntled with almost every serious aspect of SNP policy, and I've said so.' What encouraged him was the 'overwhelming' level of local support — including from voters outside the independence movement. He said the timing was also practical — announcing before summer to allow him to campaign at local events like the Nairn Games and Inverness Show. 'I also didn't want to announce it after Parliament had gone into recess, because I think that would have made it look as if I was a bit cowardly, scared to go back and face my colleagues. 'I mean, since three-quarters of my SNP colleagues haven't talked to me for four years, then I don't really think there's going to be too much change.' READ MORE Leaving the SNP means surrendering access to party infrastructure and campaign data, but Mr Ewing said he remained undeterred. He was, he insisted, capable of winning. 'The idea that the SNP machine is a finely tuned Rolls-Royce is, sadly, not true. Headquarters was barely functioning at the last election. The machine is now out of oil and probably spends more time in the garage than on the road.' He added that around 20 volunteers were already on board: 'You don't need huge numbers to run a campaign. Twenty dedicated people are better than a hundred turning up for a selfie.' Mr Ewing said his re-election bid would be strengthened by the fact that, over more than 25 years as a constituency MSP, he had helped thousands of local people. 'List MSPs don't really do very much constituency work. I mean, they pretend to, but the truth is they don't. Not many constituents go to them. They don't know who they are.' Mr Ewing said the Parliament had become 'tribal and fractious,' and that more cross-party cooperation was needed, particularly given the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. 'It may sound a bit naïve to say, well, parties can work together in Scotland, but it depends on the context. And if the context is Reform ends up with 32 seats and becomes the second-largest party, it might not be naïve — it might be necessary — for the other parties to stop their bloody bickering and get on with governing in a grown-up way,' he said. Despite his criticisms, Mr Ewing said he would continue as a 'critical friend' to the SNP and reiterated his support for Kate Forbes, though he stopped short of saying he would rejoin if she became leader. 'I was against the Green deal from the start. I was the only one who voted against it in the whole group, the only one. I was proven to be correct. But nobody has actually ever said we got it wrong. 'The SNP are like the emperor in the emperor's new clothes. They're in denial. And the trouble about that is that although — I'm not the wee boy that blew the gaff on the emperor and said he was naked, I'm a 68-year-old whippersnapper — nonetheless, the public can see it." In a statement, First Minister 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'. He added: '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.'
STV News
20-06-2025
- 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
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- 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.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Fully dualled A96 'remains favoured Scottish government position'
Making the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness fully dual carriageway remains the Scottish government's "current favoured position".Transport Scotland has published a new report summarising public feedback from a consultation on options aimed at improving the has been passed to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who said the preferred option had not changed from full dualling. Last year, a 2011 commitment to upgrade 86 miles (138km) of the route by 2030 was abandoned by the Scottish government. The A96 passes through large areas of farmland, and the route includes the towns of Nairn, Elgin and has long stretches of single carriageway and some shorter dualled road and crawler lanes. Ms Hyslop will now consider the feedback and assessment work, before the Scottish government makes a final decision on how to progress."The position of the Scottish government has not changed," she said."The current favoured position is to fully dual the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn bypass, having acquired the land for the scheme earlier this year." How many responded to the A96 consultation? She said it was a sign of the public interest that more than 1,400 responses to the consultation were received."It was important that local people, businesses and communities were given the opportunity to help inform the government's final decision on how to take forward improvements to the A96 corridor," Ms Hyslop 12-week consultation took place from November to than 60% of respondents expressed support for the current commitment to fully dual the A96.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man charged over crash that left three in hospital
A man has been charged in connection with a crash in Moray which left three people in hospital. Part of the A96 between Elgin and Alves was closed for several hours following the incident involving a bus and a van on 20 May. Three people between the ages of 37 and 60 were taken to Dr Grey's Hospital for treatment. A 37-year-old man has been reported to the procurator fiscal. Three in hospital after crash closed A96
