Rebel Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing to stay away from SNP conference

Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing, who is facing suspension from the SNP, will not be attending his party's annual conference.

Party members will gather for the three-day conference taking place in Aberdeen from Sunday to Tuesday.

But Mr Ewing, who is currently appealing against a one-week suspension following several rebellions against the Scottish Government, will not be among them.

"I have constituency engagements," he said.

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The veteran MSP has been a vocal opponent of the coalition between the SNP and the Scottish Greens and also critical of First Minister Humza Yousaf and his policies.

Mr Ewing has also remained highly critical of the failure to dual the A9 trunk road, gender reforms and fishing controls through now-axed plans for highly protected marine areas.

The outspoken MSP also rebelled against the government in a vote over calls for a 12-month delay to the short-term lets licensing scheme.

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