She held that seat until she stepped down in 2001, and represented the same area in the Scottish Parliament from 1999 until her death from breast cancer in March 2006.

His sister, Annabelle Ewing, was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Perth until the 2005 general election and has been the MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife since 2011.

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 and his mother, Winnie Ewing both abstained from the vote to abolish Section 28[6] via the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc.

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 a public letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Ewing revealed: "In our discussion yesterday, you indicated that you will form a slimmed down cabinet.