Latest news with #FergusEwing
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Spell out the facts to voters about the value of North Sea oil and gas
Elsewhere in the same edition, Fergus Ewing MSP accuses the SNP of failing to support oil and gas workers. READ MORE: Patrick Harvie and Angus Robertson face-off over Israel divestment SNP independence literature should emphasise, once more, the vast riches earned from Scottish North Sea oil and gas. We should print the number of barrels produced per day in Scottish waters and the value of each barrel and how this could be used to benefit the ordinary people of Scotland. Simply state these basic facts to the voters, without tying ourselves to political doctrines. No oil-producing country in the world is reducing its oil and gas outputs. Indeed, other countries, such as Norway and Israel, merrily make cash for themselves through 'burn-baby-burn' enterprises in Scottish waters. It's time to arouse the people with the simple, basic facts. Councillor Tom Johnston (SNP) Cumbernauld
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Ewing in Branchform jibe at SNP after independent election bid
Police Scotland seized a campervan in 2023 amid its Operation Branchform inquiries into the SNP's finances. Mr Ewing, who is the son of the late SNP stalwart Winnie Ewing, announced his intention to run as an independent candidate for Inverness and Nairn on Friday – effectively challenging the selected SNP candidate Emma Roddick. It is understood this led to him leaving the SNP, with whom he has been associated for 50 years, as party rules prevent such an action. John Swinney has spoken of his 'sadness and regret' at Mr Ewing's decision to leave. READ MORE: Ewing: 'Who, hand on heart, can defend the SNP's record?' John Swinney calls for diplomatic solution over US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites Alex Neil: Fergus Ewing will 'easily beat' the SNP as an independent Minister warns of raised Iranian terror threat in UK after US strikes Appearing on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Mr Ewing said: 'First of all, I'm a Highland MSP, my job is to represent and speak out for the people that voted me in.' He highlighted the 'indefensible' failures to dual the A9 and A96 roads, also accusing the SNP of failing to support oil and gas workers. It was put to Mr Ewing that his status as an independent candidate could lead to a pro-union party winning the seat instead. He said: 'I'm fighting to win. I had a large majority, a fairly large personal vote, I take nothing for granted.' Mr Ewing added: 'I believe it's the right decision, and I will be sure the party will throw everything into it – every effort, the kitchen sink, and perhaps even the camper van.' Following Mr Ewing's announcement on Friday, Mr 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.' Conservative MSP Edward Mountain responded to the Sunday Show interview, saying: 'Fergus Ewing may have finally decided to quit the SNP, but he's been prepared to stick with them for years, despite their numerous damaging failures. 'He condemns their focus on fringe issues such as gender self-ID and their opposition to oil and gas, but he's still backing their most divisive obsession – breaking up the UK.'
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Fergus Ewing: SNP will 'throw everything' into trying to stop me winning
The former SNP veteran announced on Friday he will run as an independent in Inverness and Nairn Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Fergus Ewing has predicted the SNP will throw 'the kitchen sink and perhaps even the campervan' into trying to stop him winning at next year's Holyrood election. Mr Ewing, who has represented the SNP in the Scottish Parliament since 1999, announced on Friday morning that he will instead run as an independent in Inverness and Nairn in 2026. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said his former party had 'lost its way' and 'ceased to be champions for the people of Scotland'. Mr Ewing has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Government on several issues over recent years, including the lack of progress on dualling the A9 and A96 roads. Fergus Ewing | Colin D Fisher/ Appearing on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Mr Ewing was asked whether he risked splitting the nationalist vote and letting another party, such as the Conservatives, 'through the middle'. Mr Ewing said: "I don't think that will happen. I'm fighting to win. I had a large majority, a fairly large personal vote. I take nothing for granted. "I am doing this because I think it's the right thing to do for my constituents, for democracy in Scotland, in the sense that I want to see - not to bring anybody down, but to raise the standards of the parliament and to speak out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "It was Edwin Morgan, wasn't it, the great national bard, who said about the Scottish Parliament, what people don't want is a 'nest of fearties'. And that doesn't serve anyone's interests." He added: "I believe it's the right decision. I'm sure the party [the SNP] will throw everything into it, every effort, the kitchen sink and perhaps even the campervan." Mr Ewing secured a majority of 9,114 at the 2021 election, with the Conservatives in second place, although the Liberal Democrats won the Westminster constituency of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire last year. He said he had given the SNP "clear, fair warning" in recent months that he was minded to stand as an independent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: "I'm going to be putting out a whole series of proposals about how we can improve devolution as a whole, including picking the best people from each of the main parties because we may need - as has happened in Germany and Ireland - to have a firewall against extreme options. "That's what's happened in Germany and Ireland. It may seem fanciful that the main parties in Scotland can work together, but that won't be so fanciful if Reform end up the second party after the next election." Mr Ewing is the son of nationalist trailblazer Winnie Ewing and previously served as a senior minister under both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Since leaving government, he has criticised SNP ministers on a range of issues, including the decision to bring the Greens into the Scottish Government in the Bute House Agreement, which collapsed last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Emma Roddick has been selected as the SNP candidate for Inverness and Nairn next year.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Fergus Ewing: Can veteran Nationalist beat the SNP at Scottish election and win as an independent?
Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... No family has contributed more to the SNP and the independence cause than the Ewing family. That was the view of James Mitchell, professor of public policy at Edinburgh University and an expert on the party, when I spoke to him back in March for an article about this extraordinary political dynasty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Winnie Ewing's victory in Hamilton in 1967 remains one of the defining moments of modern Scottish nationalism. Her son, Fergus, has now set the scene for another remarkable election battle. Fergus Ewing, pictured in the Scottish Parliament | PA His announcement that he will run as an independent in Inverness and Nairn next year, standing against the party he has represented in Holyrood since 1999, will cause real concern in the SNP hierarchy. Mr Ewing, who secured a majority of 9,114 in 2021, has been an outspoken critic of the Scottish Government on a number of issues, not least the lack of progress on dualling the A9 and A96 roads. He is viewed as a strong local champion, regardless of whether or not you agree with him. He told The Scotsman he is going to put 'everything' into the fight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fergus Ewing | Colin D Fisher/ 'Two Fridays ago, it took me two hours to get through Morrisons to do some shopping for four items, and I wasn't swithering in the aisles,' he said. 'It was just people wanting to speak to me. 'It's easy to overestimate one's own personal popularity, but I did get a majority of around nine [thousand] or 10,000 for the past three elections and I think I'm in with for a shout. But let the people decide.' Can Mr Ewing pull it off? Only three MSPs have ever won on an independent platform. Dennis Canavan scored a spectacular victory in 1999, and again in 2003, after being rejected as a Labour candidate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Margo MacDonald was repeatedly elected as an independent list MSP after falling out with the SNP, while Jean Turner won Strathkelvin and Bearsden in 2003 following a very specific local campaign centred on Stobhill Hospital. 'I think he's got a good chance,' said Prof Mitchell. 'Not least because a lot of the issues on which he has spoken out against the Government, on which he has been rebellious, have been related to his constituency. 'He has in that sense been a very, very good constituency member, and that can only help him. What is certainly the case is it's going to damage the SNP, of that there is no doubt.' Mr Ewing has been campaigning all his life, said Prof Mitchell, while he may also benefit from his family name. His mother was strongly associated with the Highlands and islands. The media interest during the campaign will also help, of course. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He will have some support in the SNP membership and among the activists as well, so that would not be insignificant,' Prof Mitchell added. Emma Roddick, who is a list MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has been selected as the SNP candidate for Inverness and Nairn. She was previously a junior minister, but does not enjoy anywhere near the profile of Mr Ewing.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Fergus Ewing's furious broadside as he says he'll now run AGAINST the SNP
One of the SNP 's longest-serving politicians has launched a vitriolic attack on the party for having 'lost its way' as he announced plans to stand as an independent. Fergus Ewing, a former Cabinet minister who has been an MSP since the Scottish Parliament was opened and an SNP member for around 50 years, said he cannot stand for the party again and 'defend the indefensible '. He said that the party has 'deserted' those it used to champion over the past decade and focused on issues 'largely irrelevant to most people's lives'. The politician also said that devolution is presently 'letting Scotland's people down' and the country is in a state of 'managed decline' under the SNP. Following the explosive statement, it was confirmed that the SNP had rescinded his membership - and he was also told he would be evicted from his office in the SNP corridors in parliament and the party whip removed. Mr Ewing, who had intended to remain an SNP MSP until the election before standing as an independent candidate for Inverness and Nairn, condemned the way the issue had been dealt with, saying: 'Fifty years' service, two line missive.' Emma Roddick, a former minister under Humza Yousaf who is on the Left of the party, will now stand directly against him as the SNP candidate next year. In his personal statement issued yesterday, Mr Ewing, whose mother Winnie is one of the biggest figures in the SNP's history following her landmark by-election victory in Hamilton in 1967, said the Scottish Parliament has been 'at its worst' in recent years. He said: 'The SNP has been part of the fabric of my life for more than half a century. Indeed, I believe there has been a distinctive thread of Ewing running through its plaid for even longer. I hope that is never removed. 'But fabrics can become worn. I hope the SNP can repair itself and return to the honour and traditions of those who first wove it in a manner that meets Scotland's real modern needs. 'The failures of the SNP to deliver on its long-standing pledges to dual the A9 and A96 are a major part of that. I cannot stand again for the SNP and defend the indefensible. '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.' He heavily criticised recent SNP leaders for choosing candidates who will 'slavishly support them' and for 'choosing the pliant over the talented'. In the decade since Alex Salmond stood down and was succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon, he said the SNP 'seems to have deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion' on issues including oil and gas, farming, fishing, rural affairs, tourism and small business - and accused the party of 'betraying generations who fought for women's rights'. He said he has tried to act as a 'critical friend' to the party and said he warned Nicola Sturgeon about the 'strategic blunder' of entering a power-sharing alliance with the Greens, and also highlighted that current First Minister John Swinney negotiated the deal. Mr Ewing said: 'These failures - plus a strange preoccupation with issues regarded as largely irrelevant to most people' lives - have all cost the SNP much loss of electoral support but also something else which is priceless. Public trust. 'Scotland is indeed in a state of 'managed decline' as Sir Tom Hunter recently said.' Urging different parties to work together, he said that Holyrood needs to 'grow up'. It was confirmed by the SNP that its constitution sets out that party membership ceases when any individual declares their intention to stand against the party. Mr Ewing confirmed that he was informed yesterday (FRI) that his 'membership was over', that he would be evicted from his office at Holyrood and the SNP whip would be removed. The Inverness and Nairn seat is now expected to be hotly contested next year. In 2021, Mr Ewing secured 48 per cent of the vote for the party, with the Conservatives in second place on 28 per cent, Labour in third on 12 per cent, and the Lib Dems in fourth on six per cent. Edward Mountain, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: '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. '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. 'The SNP have shamefully abandoned the Highlands over their 18 years in power.' Neil Alexander, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverness and Nairn, said: 'Fergus Ewing has sat around the cabinet table or on the backbenches for the entirety of the SNP's 18 years in government. He can't just walk away from the big part he has played in their record of failing the Highlands. 'While the two nationalists try to turn our constituency into a battleground for their party feud, I'm focused on what really matters to people here.' Mr 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.'
