Could disciplining Fergus Ewing torpedo the SNP government’s credibility in the Highlands?
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Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing is potentially facing sanctions from the SNP after rebelling over a vote of no confidence in the Greens circular economy minister Lorna Slater and her handling of the deposit return scheme (DRS).
But the move could backfire on the party as it struggles to win back credibility in the north after failures relating to the A9 and ferries – though that is unlikely to affect voter support for individual MSPs.
Since the vote was predictably defeated yesterday there have been rumours that Mr Ewing would lose the whip, rumours which gathered pace after he released a defiant statement detailing why he voted against Ms Slater.
For many, including former SNP spin doctor Murray Foote, who called for disciplinary action last month, the issue of Mr Ewing speaking against government policy is being seen as a test of strength and credibility of First Minister Humza Yousaf.
What has not been mentioned is how the Highland public – still incensed over the A9, ferries, R100, highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) and other issues – would look upon Mr Yousaf’s government.
In these issues Mr Ewing has been by far the most forthright and representative of all SNP MSPs from the Highlands, something which has seen him receive fresh plaudits after decades in parliament.
So if he is disciplined or removed in any way for any period from the mainstream party then that will be read in the Highlands as “you should be seen and not heard” because if elected MSPs cannot speak out for locals and their concerns then who can?
It will also compound the negative perception – not without evidence – that Holyrood is Central Belt-centric because it would see the party he literally grew up in favour a Greens MSP representing the Lothian region.
The truth is the Holyrood bubble may account for the idea that Fergus Ewing’s objections are a test of strength and credibility for Humza Yousaf when they are a test for the government as a whole.
Mr Yousaf has been at pains to visit the Highlands, has offered "iron-clad" promises about the A9 and elevated transport to a cabinet level issue, unlike his predecessor who appeared unconcerned by such matters.
Nowhere in Scotland is credibility and trust more at breaking point than in the north and particularly the Highlands and Western Isles – for two major reasons: transport failures and policy failures.
The transport issues have been well documented – the twin A9 dualling and ferry fiascos – and were long in the making but brought into question more and more because the Greens are against dualling “every inch” of the road.
But two policies that provoked outrage for the harm they could do to the Highlands are HPMAs and the now cancelled DRS stem from the SNP and Greens coalition deal – something Mr Ewing was totally against.
Mr Ewing was utterly unrepentant today but expressed surprise at news reports that he was “toast,” saying: “Nobody has told me anything, so it is funny to find out what is happening in the papers.”
Should the party choose to discipline Mr Ewing it would place it in the unenviable position of backing a Greens central belt minister over one of its own Highland MSPs who largely has the public behind him.
The view from the north is that party discipline and the coalition with the Greens is more important than the people of the Highlands – remember the A9 is costing people their lives.
And the fact is that Mr Ewing does not come from just any family but one that is steeped in SNP lore because his mother is Winnie Ewing could be too much for some long-term SNP members. Those party stalwarts who recall the decades of work in the political wilderness that went into the recent electoral success.
Few things express weakness faster than the inability to hear the truth, so there is a lot on the line for the SNP and its relationship with Mr Ewing.
Fergus Ewing’s full statement on why he supported a no confidence vote against Lorna Slater:
“Over the past two years I have sought to persuade colleagues in my party and in government that the Deposit Return scheme proposed was fatally and irremediably flawed.
“Over those two years, I have engaged extensively with a wide range of businesses, many of whom faced serious commercial damage from the scheme were it to go ahead.
“Some small producers have already given up and others were set to close or shed staff. Others would cease doing business in their own country of Scotland. Many are struggling to recover from losses and repay debt incurred during covid, as well as meet increased costs of supplies and the cost of living crisis.
“Small retailers have signed up to contracts to lease reverse vending machines and incurred major other costs because they were required by law to be ready to operate the scheme or else be banned from selling any items in scope - in practice tantamount to ceasing business
“My warnings issued first privately then in public were ignored or dismissed. Had the scheme been halted in summer or autumn 2021 as I called for then, the massive losses now incurred by hundreds of businesses would have been avoided as would the major political damage caused.
“The minister with responsibility for the scheme does not enjoy the confidence of business.
“I have therefore voted today to seek a new minister appointed to take over this troubled matter to deal with the huge fallout of numerous compensation claims and reconsider afresh how best to achieve recycling objectives.”
