Ewing decision to stand against SNP ‘wasn’t necessary’, says Swinney

The decision of a veteran former SNP MSP who announced he would stand against the party at the next election “wasn’t necessary”, First Minister John Swinney has said.

Fergus Ewing said on Friday he would stand as an independent in 2026, pointing 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 powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens, the collapse of which led to the resignation of former first minister Humza Yousaf.

Mr Ewing – whose mother Winnie is revered among in the SNP’s ranks – has represented the party at Holyrood since the Parliament’s formation in 1999, but in recent years has become an outspoken critic of the Government, having served as a minister under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

Recent years have seen the “worst” of the Scottish Parliament, he said in a statement on Friday.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, First Minister John Swinney spoke of his disappointment with the decision, but stressed that the party 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,” Mr Swinney said.

“I don’t think it’s the right decision, it wasn’t necessary.

“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.”