Latest news with #EmmaRoddick
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.'
Press and Journal
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Gallery: Highland Pride draws crowds to the heart of Inverness
Highland Pride took place on Saturday June 7, and was a vibrant celebration of diversity, inclusion and the LGBTQ+ community across the Highlands. Hundreds joined the colourful parade through Inverness city centre, marching from Falcon Square to Eden Court with banners, music, and loads of energy. The Pride Paddlers passed under the bridge just as the parade crossed over it, and a flashmob-style dance outside Eden Court closed the parade on a high. At Eden Court, people could explore a fire engine with local firefighters, take part in sports demos including badminton, disc golf, football and paddling, and chat to groups like Nature Days and the Samaritans. Later in the day, the celebration continued inside the Empire Theatre from 2.30pm, with speeches from Emma Roddick MSP, Cllr Sarah Fanet, and Lady Carbisdale, each highlighting different aspects of LGBTQ+ activism. There were also brilliant performances from Venus GuyTrap, Dashh, and Sugar Browne. P&J photographer was there to capture all the best moments.
The Herald Scotland
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Procurement process for two new Northlink ferries launched
The 'freight-flex' ferries, also known as Northern Isles Freight Vessels (NIFV), have been being developed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and naval architects Leadship Design and Consulting, and has been presented to Scottish government ministers and officials. Ms Hyslop confirmed that the design will be the basis of a tendering process, with funding available in the 2025-26 budget. Transport Scotland said that there is a 'potential' contract start on the freighter replacements next year. The freighter-flex vessels will replace the aged Helliar and Hildasay, offering additonal freight capacity, quicker crossings and space for up to 200 passengers on board at peak times. The MS Hildasay (Image: NQ) Ms Hyslop confirmed the launch of the procurement process in response to a parliament question from Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick. She said: 'The Scottish Government is fully committed to investing in all of our lifeline ferry services and so, I am pleased to see this progress in procuring two new freight flex vessels to serve the Northern Isles. 'These new vessels will have increased freight capacity, higher operating speeds, and additional capacity for passengers in peak season. This will enhance the efficiency and reliability of ferry services to best meet the needs of the businesses and communities in the Northern Isles for years to come. 'The start of this procurement is an important milestone in our plans to improve ferry services and I look forward to following the progress of this project over the coming months.' READ MORE: Ferry fare price hike was eight percent more than requested by operators Visitors to Shetland 'twice as likely to be influenced by film, TV or literature' CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said the announcement marked an 'important step forward in strengthening the long-term resilience of the Northern Isles services. 'We look forward to receiving bids that demonstrate innovation, efficiency and the ability to deliver reliable vessels that will support a more adaptable and robust service for years to come,' he added. Fiona Hyslop (Image: NQ) NorthLink managing director Stuart Garrett has thanked all those involved in the project. 'NorthLink Ferries welcomes the additional capacity that the freight flex vessels will provide, enabling us to continue to support the growth of the Northern Isles economies,' he told the Shetland Times. Ms Roddick said: 'It is great news that CMAL is moving to procure two new freight vessels for Orkney and Shetland. 'This will make such a difference to capacity on the route and promote resilience even when there are issues with weather or other disruption.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Scottish Highlands plots ‘campervan tax' amid huge rise in visitors
Campervan drivers face paying a tourist tax to drive through the Scottish Highlands because the roads 'cannot cope' with the number of visitors. Tensions have risen in recent years between locals and campervan drivers following a surge in motorhome tourists, with accusations they are clogging up roads and illegally dumping waste. The number of visitors to the Highlands has risen by 65pc since 2012 with nearly 36,000 campervans touring the region in 2022, according to the local council. The increase is in part down to the construction of the North Coast 500, a scenic 500-mile route around the north coast dubbed 'Scotland's Route 66', which has attracted tourists from around the world and led to a rise in visitors renting campervans to complete the drive. A study by Glasgow Caledonian University found the route, which was launched in 2015, has boosted the local economy by £22m a year, creating about 200 full-time jobs. However, Labour and SNP politicians are calling for campervan drivers to pay a levy to visit the area with some suggesting the council install cameras to track the registration plates of drivers to make sure they pay. Shaun Fraser, who is standing to be Labour MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said: 'Initiatives such as the North Coast 500 have transformed the dynamics of Highland tourism, with a huge rise in campervans using rural single–track highland roads. Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing. 'Highland communities and local services must benefit from tourism. I support a fair and well-designed visitor levy and sensible measures to manage the impact of campervans. 'I would be open to looking at options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using highland roads. I think that this should be considered.' It comes after Highland Council introduced a voluntary scheme last year whereby campervan visitors could pay £40 for a seven-day pass to park in some of the local authority's car parks with daily access to showering facilities. The initiative was shunned by tourists with the council forecast to raise £20,000 from the initiative in its first year despite setting a target of £500,000. Emma Roddick, of the SNP, has called for campervan visitors to be included as part of a wider tourist tax being considered by the council. The Highlands MSP said it was 'fair' that campervan drivers contributed to the 'preservation and maintenance of the areas they enjoy so much'. Highlands Council is currently reviewing whether to impose a 5pc charge on overnight accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets that it suggests would raise £10m a year, increasing further if campervans were included. The proposal has been met with fierce opposition from local business groups who fear the tax would put the area at a disadvantage to the rest of the UK and detract visitors. If approved, the levy could come into force by the end of next year, the earliest permitted under legislation passed by the Scottish government last year. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The National
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Edinburgh protest renews calls to abolish the monarchy
Speakers at the annual Republic Day event on Calton Hill in Edinburgh included Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie, SNP MSP Emma Roddick, and Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, alongside performances by poet George Gunn and musicians Rue Cooper and Joan Blasco. Organised by Our Republic and Republic, the rally focused on anti-democratic nature of the monarchy, growing distaste for the Windsor's taxpayer-funded privilege during a cost of living crisis, and the need for a united, grassroots movement for abolition. Harvie told The National he was 'delighted' to attend and 'pleased' by growing momentum around republicanism. On concerns about electing a head of state, he said: 'The drawback with anything that's about a greater democratic state is that we might make the wrong decision. (Image: NQ) "We might elect, as other countries have, someone dangerous to the position of head of state – you need constitutional checks and balances to prevent power from being abused, but the problem right now is we have no accountability, no control, no right to choose and no checks and balances at all. "When the monarchy's power is abused it's often in secret, behind closed doors and doesn't even come to light until years or even decades later.' "If you take power back to the people ... we have to accept, of course, that we might make a bad choice, but that's what democracy is.' READ MORE: Scottish Greens call to abolish monarchy ahead of Edinburgh protest Despite the calm atmosphere of the event, it was clear that the problem of the unelected holding such power was becoming more and more apparent. Jemma Campbell (below), 23, treasurer of Scottish Socialist Youth, said: 'Now is the time, more than ever, that we have to call for an independent socialist republic in Scotland. (Image: NQ) "We have to come together to resist far-right elitism. "Seeing the rise of Reform in England and the lack of action by the Labour Government makes it abundantly clear that we have to take matters into our own hands.' Paul Turner, 58, said: 'People are beginning to wake up. They are beginning to realise that the royal family are not a higher form of humanity – they're just ordinary, fallible people like you and I, therefore they have no more right than anybody else to our head of state.' Francine Love, 50, added: 'I really, firmly believe that we could have something much better. "The monarchy props up a lot of inequality, a lot of injustice, and we're never going to have better until we get rid of it and replace it with an elected head of state.' Emma Roddick speaking at Saturday's rally (Image: NQ) SNP MSP Roddick (above), who began her parliamentary career by swearing allegiance to a monarchy she doesn't "believe in", also stressed the importance of accountability and free elections for a head of state She told The National: 'We shouldn't be having billionaires that cannot pay tax, that can change our laws and uphold these ideas that there is such a thing as divine right to rule and that the state should fund massive wealth inequality. READ MORE: Royal family hijacked VE Day anniversary, says republican protest organiser "I always say to people who say to me that they quite like Princess Anne 'grand, go and vote for her'. "Vote for someone who can bring something to that role and really help Scotland move forward – the monarchy's never going to do that.' (Image: NQ) Greens MSP Chapman (above) expressed concern for climate justice with the royal family still as head of state, saying: 'Our democracy needs to be at the heart of environmental justice. "We can't have the powers we need at a local level to be able to build the economies we need that are going to be sustainable; economies that are for people and planet, not for profiteering. "The monarchy may seem quite far removed from that, but at its core it is anti-democratic ... it represents everything that is wrong with Britain at the moment – we cannot have environmental or social justice without democracy.' (Image: NQ) Organiser Tristan Grayford (above), co-founder of Our Republic, said: "It's from the people in our society that this kind of change grows – not just from politicians, it's not a single party, it's not party politics. "This kind of significant change to how our society and government operates needs to come from society as a whole.' Similar campaigns took place in London and Cardiff, with one Trafalgar Square protester criticising the royal family for 'hijacking' VE Day celebrations.
