A former SNP minister who first greenlit plans to dual the A9 says he can “absolutely understand” why party stalwart Fergus Ewing will stand against his former colleagues following years of frustration over delays to the project.
Ewing was this week accused of “betrayal” by SNP candidate Emma Roddick – his former employee – after he announced he will face off against her for the Inverness and Nairn constituency next year.
Ewing has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Government in recent years and has spoken out against the deposit return scheme, gender reform, marine protected areas and what he said is a lack of support for the oil and gas industry.
He confirmed in March he will not stand for the SNP and blamed the Scottish Government’s failure to dual the A9 and A96 roads.
We revealed previously how transport bosses had paid design consultants and planners almost double what has been spent on actual construction to dual the A9.
On Friday, he confirmed he will compete at next year’s election as an independent candidate “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”.
Ewing’s anger is ‘understandable’
Speaking last night, former SNP infrastructure minister Alex Neil said Ewing’s decision represents the feeling of frustration being felt by many inside the party – and he predicted the former cabinet minister will go on to win the seat.
“I can absolutely understand why he’s doing it,” Ewing said.
“He is, like the rest of us, very frustrated with the leadership of the SNP – or lack of leadership and the lack of emphasis on independence.
© David Whittaker-Smith / Press & Journal“I would be prepared to put a bet on that he’s win his constituency. The government still aren’t listening to the technical advice arranged by Fergus which could bring forward the completion of the A9 by four or five years.
“People in the Highlands don’t want nodding donkeys as their parliamentary representatives.
“They want people who will stand up for what they believe in and stand up for their constituency and Fergus ticks those boxes in a way the SNP hasn’t done in recent years.”
Ewing claims SNP ‘deserted’ voters
Ewing is the son of SNP legend Winnie Ewing, whose win in the 1967 Hamilton by-election was a historic breakthrough for the party.
His sister Annabelle Ewing is the SNP MSP for Cowdenbeath.
Announcing his decision to stand at next year’s election, Ewing claimed the SNP has “deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion”.
He added: “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.”
Ewing remains an SNP member and initially insisted he was still part of the SNP group.
However, Roddick said she was in no doubt that his announcement was a public resignation.
She said: “It’s just generally sad to see him leave like this. Some feel betrayal even, some surprise, but it’s his decision. It doesn’t change my campaign.”
The party confirmed later on Friday that he had been kicked out of the SNP group and that his membership had been torn up.
Speaking to the Press and Journal, Ewing said: “I haven’t left the SNP or left the SNP group, so it’s really up to them what they do.
“In some ways, what I’ve been trying to call on the SNP to deliver promises to the Highland people on dualling the A9 and A96.
“I’ve just been demanding the party meet its own promises.”
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