Emma Roddick on Ewing, Flynn and being on female 'hit list'

The former minister also criticised comments Mr Ewing made last weekend that independence should be put "on the back burner" for a decade while the Scottish Government focused on improving public services.

In a wide ranging interview, the MSP for the Highlands and Islands, 27, who was the youngest MSP to be elected in 2021, also spoke about how she responded to being on a "hit list" of female SNP MSPs some in the party reportedly wanted to oust.

READ MORE: 

• Analysis: John Swinney's leadership is safe – for now – as plotters fall silent
• Alex Neil: Fergus Ewing will 'easily beat' the SNP as an independent
• Why I think the odds are against Fergus Ewing
• Ewing: 'Who, hand on heart, can defend the SNP's record?'

And she described how she felt after being sacked as equalities minister by First Minister John Swinney and her hopes for a return to government one day.

Mr Ewing, a former rural affairs secretary and the son of  the late SNP trailblazer Winnie Ewing, shocked the world of Scottish politics last week, when he announced he would be standing against the SNP as an independent candidate in his seat of Inverness and Nairn at the Holyrood election next year.

The 67-year-old, who now sits as an independent MSP, has pointed to his prominent role and personal support in the constituency in his bid for re-election.

But speaking to The Herald Ms Roddick cast doubt on whether Mr Ewing's personal support in the constituency would help him win as she underlined her optimism she would retake the seat for the SNP.

READ MORE: 

• Ewing makes Branchform jibe at SNP after independent MSP election bid
• John Swinney calls for diplomatic solution over US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites
• Prestwick Airport hits back at Humza Yousaf in 'complicit in war crimes' row
• Prestwick Airport hits back at Humza Yousaf in 'complicit in war crimes' row

"What we have in Inverness is not a party built around any one person. It's a fantastic group of grassroots-led local activists which believes in a vision of an independent Scotland where we treat everybody more fairly, and the Highlands gets an equal say in national issues and policy decisions. So I will be relying on that campaign and we can win in the way we have won every election since 1999," she said.

"What is more important than any one person is what you are standing for. My message and the SNP's message has always been clear about what we are trying to do and I believe I can get that message across."

She was asked if she was concerned that a pro-UK party could win the seat with the pro-independence vote split by both the SNP and Mr Ewing.

She said:  "I will certainly be making it very clear to SNP supporters that that's what we want to avoid. If they do vote on the basis of seeking Scotland's independence or even greater powers for the Highlands it needs to be the SNP and me who they go for."

SNP MSP Emma Roddick speaks to The Herald's Kathleen Nutt (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) She was asked if she agreed with Mr Ewing's comments that independence should be put on the backburner for a decade.

"Absolutely not," she said arguing that independence "shouldn't be seen as an alternative to dealing with a crisis or immediate issues. Because the reason why we are not able to react in the way we want to to things like the Covid pandemic, the cost of living crisis, Brexit, is because we do not have full powers.

"I expect there will be events and crises in the next session, whether that is related to growing tensions in the world, the UK's part in those tensions, artificial intelligence, climate change, global challenges that we have and as a country we react to.

"It's very likely that we are going to face other situations, where we would want greater powers at our disposal to react. For me having independence as these things continue to come up is vital."

Ms Roddick highlighted differences between her and Mr Ewing's views on social and equality issues, and on fox hunting.

(Image: Gordon Terris) She is a strong advocate for equal marriage and supported the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform Bill which was designed to make the process easier for transgender people to obtain a gender recognition certificate.

Mr Ewing voted against both equal marriage and gender recognition reform, and opposed an outright ban on fox hunting in 2001 whilst a member of the rural development committee.

"I know this doesn't come across in descriptions of me online but I have never prioritised talking about social issues. For me it's quite a fundamental issue in the same way that independence is," she said.

"I just believe in equality for everyone, that Scotland should have its own say in decisions that are made for the country.

"I accept that I am very closely aligned to a lot of these issues that Fergus is on the absolute opposite [side] of. Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community I just will always stick up for others in that community, especially in the face of hate crime and attempts to remove rights."

She added: "I am not keen on fox hunting. I am happy with equal marriage ... he is happy with fox hunting."

Ms Roddick was highly critical of the SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn's decision to stand as a candidate for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine at the Holyrood election next year while holding onto his Aberdeen South seat until the next general election. He made his intention public in a newspaper interview in November last year. (Mr Flynn later backed down saying he will step down as an MP to become an MSP.)

Months after her criticism, in February this year, Ms Roddick appeared on a “hit list” of female SNP MSPs. It had been reportedly drawn up by allies of Mr Flynn who wanted the five women listed to be replaced with ex-SNP MPs. Senior SNP figures denied Mr Flynn drew up such a list.

But Ms Roddick believed the list existed and that she was on it.

She said: "It wasn't surprised in the slightest. I am on a lot of lists. I experience a lot of misogyny in this role."

She pointed out she had criticised the former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross for being both an MP and an MP and couldn't say "nothing" when someone in her party was "then trying to do the same."

She was asked how she would get on with Mr Flynn if they are both elected to Holyrood next year, she said:  "I've just spent four years in a group with Fergus Ewing, I'm sure I'll cope. I will more than happily chat to him. I have good relationships with MSPs in every party in this place. It is harder when criticism comes from your own party."

Ms Roddick was appointed equalities minister by First Minister Humza Yousaf in 2023 but ceased to continue in the post under his successor Mr Swinney.

The Herald pointed out she was sacked as equalities minister when John Swinney became First Minister.  At the time Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens co-leader, suggested her exit from government raised concerns over a potential watering down of equalities legislation.

"How did it feel being removed as a minister from a job you presumably much loved?" we asked.

"There were very mixed feelings around that at the time. I was excited to take on being a member of the rural affairs and islands committee," she said after a long pause.

"The week that I left government I joined the committee and was immediately immersed in the agriculture and rural communities bill."

Pressed if she was sad to leave the ministerial role, she said: "No I think I'm happy with what I achieved [as equalities minister] and since."

And asked if she would like to return to government? "If it were the right role," she said. 

Mr Ewing said: "An answer to all of this would be almost as long as the A9 - which of course has not been dualled.   

"Broken promises to the Highlands cannot be ignored; competent  government must be restored;  and the main parties must work together like non-politician grown-ups do if Scotland is to be a better place."

Mr Flynn was approached for comment.