Fergus Ewing

Fergus Stewart Ewing (born 23 September 1957) is a Scottish politician, serving as the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Inverness and Nairn.

Fergus Ewing

MSP
Ewing in 2018
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism[1]
Assumed office
18 May 2016
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byRichard Lochhead
Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism
In office
20 May 2011 – 18 May 2016
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded byJim Mather
Succeeded byPaul Wheelhouse
Minister for Community Safety
In office
17 May 2007 – 20 May 2011
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byJohann Lamont
Succeeded byRoseanna Cunningham
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Inverness and Nairn
Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber 1999–2011)
Assumed office
3 May 1999
Preceded bynew constituency
Majority10,857 (28.3%)
Personal details
Born (1957-09-23) 23 September 1957
Glasgow
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)Margaret McAdam(m. 1983–2006; her death)
ParentsStewart Ewing
Winnie Ewing
RelativesAnnabelle Ewing (sister)
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow

Background

He is the son of the veteran Scottish Nationalist Winnie Ewing (his father was also an SNP councillor) and has long been active in the SNP. Educated at Loretto, in Musselburgh, he studied law at the University of Glasgow[2] where he was a member of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association. His late wife, Margaret Ewing, was the MSP for the neighbouring constituency of Moray until her death in March 2006. His sister, Annabelle Ewing, was the MP for Perth until the 2005 election and is MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (from 2011). He is now in a relationship with Dr Fiona Pearsall with whom he had a daughter in 2008.[3]

Member of the Scottish Parliament

He was elected to represent Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber in the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and he held on to the seat in 2003[4] and 2007.[5] He, with his mother Winnie Ewing, abstained from the vote to abolish Section 28[6] via the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000; he also opposed an outright ban on fox hunting. After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, Ewing was appointed as the Minister for Community Safety. After the SNP victory at the 2011 Scottish Parliament Election, he was appointed as the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, succeeding Jim Mather who stood down as an MSP. In February 2014 he voted against the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland[7] In November 2014 the portfolio became Business Energy & Tourism.

References
  1. Rural Economy and Connectivity (2016–18)
  2. "Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy". Scottish Government. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  3. "MSP Ewing celebrating first child". Scotsman newspaper. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  4. "Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Fergus Ewing". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. "Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007-2011): Fergus Ewing". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  6. Official Report; c 601, Scottish Parliament, 21 June 2000
  7. "Scotland's same-sex marriage bill: How MSPs voted". BBC News. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
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