VETERAN SNP MSP and scion of a political dynasty Fergus Ewing will stand as an independent candidate in next year’s Holyrood election.

Announcing his intentions, the Inverness and Nairn MSP, who has sat in the Scottish Parliament since it was reconvened in 1999, accused the SNP of presiding over “managed decline.”

“The SNP has been part of the fabric of my life for more than half a century” he said.

“There has been a distinctive thread of [the family] Ewing running through its plaid for even longer.”

The former minister, who increasingly found himself at odds with SNP leadership on issues ranging from net zero to the dualling of the A9, added: “The SNP has lost its way and that devolution itself — presently — is letting Scotland’s people down.”

SNP leader John Swinney said: “It was with real sadness and deep regret that I heard of Fergus Ewing’s decision to leave the Scottish National Party.

“Fergus had the option of standing at the forthcoming election for the SNP.

“He chose not to accept that opportunity and I regret that he has ultimately decided instead to leave the party.”