VETERAN SNP MSP Fergus Ewing could have stood for the party again in 2026, the First Minister has said.
Speaking to PA Media, John Swinney said that Ewing's decision to run for Holyrood as an independent at the elections next year “wasn’t necessary”.
Ewing said on Friday he would stand as an independent in 2026. He pointed to what he viewed as his own party’s failings, including on the dualling of the A9 and A96, which go through his Inverness and Nairn constituency, and the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, the collapse of which led to the resignation of former first minister Humza Yousaf.
Ewing – whose mother Winnie is seen a trailblazer for the SNP having been elected to three different parliaments – has represented the party at Holyrood since the Parliament was reconvened in 1999.
In recent years, Ewing has become an outspoken critic of the SNP Government, having served as a minister under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. After he announced his intention not to stand for the SNP in March, the party selected former minister Emma Roddick, currently a list MSP, to run in Inverness and Nairn.
Roddick will run against Ewing for the seat, which the LibDems will also fancy their chances of winning.
Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, Swinney spoke of his disappointment with his former Cabinet colleague's decision, but stressed that the SNP would fight to win the seat come next year.
“I’m obviously very, very saddened that Fergus Ewing has taken the decision that he has taken,” Swinney said.
“Fergus Ewing was eligible to stand as an SNP candidate, so this is Fergus’s choice, not the SNP choice.
“We will, of course, fight the seat to win for the SNP, and I intend to do that.”
Asked if he will “throw the kitchen sink” at the race, the First Minister added: “We’re obviously going to fight to win the constituency.”
On Sunday, Ewing said he believes the SNP will “throw everything” against his attempts to be elected as an independent MSP next year.
