Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing faces 'one week ban' for voting against government
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Outspoken Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing is facing a one-week suspension from the SNP group as 'retribution' for voting against the Scottish government, media reports have claimed.
The Times has reported that a meeting is expected to be held on Wednesday to determine Ewing's fate after he rebelled against the government in a vote over calls for a 12-month delay to the short-term lets licensing scheme.
The meeting also follows Mr Ewing's vote of no confidence in Greens minister Lorna Slater, the latest in a series of rebellions against the Scottish Government and repeated criticisms of first minister Humza Yousaf and his policies.
A vocal opponent of coalition between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, Mr Ewing has remained highly critical of the failure to dual the A9 trunk road.
He has also criticised gender reforms and fishing controls through now-axed plans for highly protected marine areas.
MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Kate Forbes, has said that the party need to be “extraordinarily careful” about suspending Mr Ewing, citing his popularity in the Highland region – particularly among people who live in distinctively rural industries.
The Times report states that there will be a three-line whip at the meeting next Wednesday, with attendance deemed to be compulsory.
It also noted that Mr Yousaf will not be there, as he is in New York City for climate week.
The SNP has said that a decision over disciplinary action was a matter to be decided by the group at Holyrood.
A source close to the Mr Ewing told the Inverness Courier: “It’s over four months since Fergus voted against the Green minister Lorna Slater who so totally mishandled the disastrous deposit return scheme that was eventually ditched after costing £86m to business and the taxpayer.
“You might ask why all other MSPs supported her? He was standing up for many people and businesses in the Highlands who may have lost their jobs and livelihoods had it not been stopped.
“Since then many of his own SNP MSP colleagues have said he should be severely disciplined. One said he was ‘toast’ and another that ‘he should be made to feel pain’. None gave their name.
“Since the SNP process involves any decision to be made by said whole group of MSPs it looks as though they have already prejudged his case.
“If this happened in a court of law it would be dismissed.
“Now that he’s been awarded MSP of the Year last week not least no doubt because he spoke out on the A9 deposit return scheme and other important issues, it’s not a great look that they seem desperate to axe him.”
