Inverness East, Nairn, Lochaber MSP Fergus Ewing and his fiancée, Fiona Pearsall, visited the Townhouse on Monday to record the birth of their new daughter, Natasha Fiona, aged just 23 days.

Mr Ewing has already seen his workload increase hugely since becoming Scotland's Minister for Community Safety, with ministerial visits to be made across Scotland as well as his wide-ranging portfolio.

But Ms Pearsall revealed that the first-time dad has still rolled up his sleeves and got involved with the dirty work. She said: "He's very good with Natasha. He entertains her, feeds her and changes her."

Mr Ewing (50) joked: "I'm making best use of the greater amount of time that I am now spending awake."

On his new arrival, he said: "We are starting to get used to the nappies, and I'm already practising handing Natasha my wallet."

Registering the birth was Highland Council registrar Ms Diane Brazier, in one of her last jobs before retiring from the post next week.

Mr Ewing and his fiancée share a home in the Boat of Garten area. He said: "We met in Grantown, so it was great to be able to register Natasha's birth in the town. We are looking forward to spending July and August in the strath, taking in some of the Highland Games and shows."

The happy family.

But with the Ewings, of course, politics is never far away.

"On Thursday I will be making a statement to the Scottish Parliament about a new drugs strategy, so we will be putting that in Natasha's little baby book," Mr Ewing said.

Natasha is the fourth grandchild for Mr Ewing's mother, SNP veteran Winnie Ewing, who already has three by Mr Ewing's brother, Terry, an investment manager, and his wife, Jacqui.

Mr Ewing said: "My mother is absolutely delighted with the timing of Natasha's arrival on May 3, which was the first anniversary of the SNP's extraordinary election victory."

After the birth was registered, the couple popped in to the Wee Dram on the High Street to buy a bottle of malt to crack open when Natasha turns 21.

She weighed in at 8lbs 2oz on May 3 at the Princess Royal Infirmary in Glasgow.

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