The veteran politician lost to Emma Roddick after dramatically quitting the party to stand as an independent.
Fergus Ewing on the campaign trail in Inverness(Image: collect)
Fergus Ewing has lost the Inverness and Nairn seat he held for almost three decades after his dramatic split from the SNP. The veteran politician stood as an independent after quitting the party last year, accusing it of “letting Scotland’s people down”.
But voters backed the SNP once again, with Emma Roddick taking the seat with 11,162 votes. Ewing secured 7,840 votes and finished third behind runner-up Neil Alexander of the Lib Dems, who polled 10,735.
The son of legendary SNP figure Winnie Ewing had centred his campaign on finally dualling the A9 and A96.
Speaking to the Press and Journal, the 68-year-old admitted that he had believed he still had “a sporting chance” of holding on to the constituency.
He said: “Oh yes! I thought I had a sporting chance, and somebody once said, ‘It’s better to have fought and lost than never have fought at all.’
“I felt that despite having served for 27 years, there was still petrol left in the tank and I had something specific to offer for the Highlands.”
Ewing lost out to the SNP’s Emma Roddick(Image: Getty Images)
Despite his defeat, Ewing insisted he has “no regrets” about walking away from the SNP. He said: “I think the SNP moved away from the traditional position occupied in Scotland.”
However, he congratulated Ms Roddick on her victory and wished her “well”. Reflecting on nearly three decades representing Inverness and Nairn, Ewing described serving the area as “the greatest privilege of my life”.
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He told the Press and Journal: “I’ve had that honour provided to me by the people of Inverness and Nairn for 27 years.
“I hope, and I believe, that I have achieved many things for the people of Inverness and Nairn, the Highlands and Scotland as a whole.”
And the former MSP suggested his political career may not be over yet.
He said: “I’m not quite ready for the bath chair yet. I think there’s still some life in the old dog, and we will see what path that takes after I have some time to dwell over it.”
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