Rebel SNP veteran Fergus Ewing's disciplinary hearing set for tomorrow evening
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Fergus Ewing’s disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow evening after an initial postponement because the Inverness and Nairn MSP was unwell with Covid.
Sources within the party say MSPs are set to meet and then vote on whether the veteran SNP politician will face any sanction over several high-profile rebellions.
It was reported, he is facing a one-week suspension from the SNP group for repeated acts of rebellions against the Scottish Government.
It has been reported that he will lose the party whip for a week in response to his outspoken views on issues ranging from the A9 to the Greens.
Last week the SNP confirmed that the planned disciplinary meeting would not go ahead until Mr Ewing had recovered.
He has literally won accolades – MSP of the Year at Holyrood Garden Party and Political Awards – for his performance over the last 12 months.
Open rebellions
In a series of open rebellions, Mr Ewing hit out ferociously at his own party over its failure to dual the A9 as is a fierce opponent of coalition partners the Greens.
Some of his most scathing criticisms were for Lorna Slater and her handling of the deposit return scheme or the DRS as the now defunct policy came to be known.
Mr Ewing has also been highly critical of gender reforms and highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) and even tore up the policy paper in Holyrood (pictured above).
He also boldly threatened to withdraw support for First Minister Mr Yousaf’s government over the A9.
The last straw for the party appears to have been a rebellion against the government in a vote over calls for a 12-month delay to the short-term lets licensing scheme.
Tricky situation
But the issue of Mr Ewing is a thorny one for the SNP as he was literally brought up in the party and is hugely respected for defending Highlanders against government policies seen as destructive.
MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Kate Forbes, has said that the party needs to be “extraordinarily careful” about suspending Mr Ewing, citing his popularity in the Highland region – particularly among people who live in distinctively rural industries.
It was rumoured he faced disciplinary action in June but his mother – a genuine SNP and independence movement legend – Winnie Ewing died.
'Not a great look'
Last week, Mr Ewing refused to comment on the move by the party but a source close to the MSP said: “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 £86 million 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.”
