SNP MSP Fergus Ewing says support for Humza Yousaf is not unconditional after ditching 'lunatic' Greens

Veteran nationalist MSP Fergus Ewing has warned Humza Yousaf that his support in any confidence vote comes with non-negotiable conditions.

The SNP firebrand wants immediate action on the dualling of the A96 if the FM wants his backing.

Ewing, suspended by the party over attacks on Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, said: ”I think I have performed a very valuable service in speaking out against my party over the last three years over the Greens.

“My genuine belief is that the Greens are a menace in government, lunatics who have wasted hundreds of millions of pounds on things that are either not much use or of very little value and they want to destroy the economy.

“I was absolutely delighted to hear the news... oh happy day.”

He added: “I am loyal to the party. I am supporting Humza for now but I want to see action by the end of the summer recess on a number of things.

“Unless that happens he cannot take this support for granted. It’s not unconditional and it’s time-limited. During the leadership contest Humza was asked if he would deliver the A96 and he said it was a top priority.

“Well £37m has been spent on this so far and there isn’t a single piece of tarmac laid. This is non-negotiable.

“We must have a clear statement by the end of the summer recess and it must say when the project will be delivered.”

Ewing also demanded that plans to ban wood burning stoves are scrapped as well as proposals to create new national parks.

The Inverness and Nairn MSP said he was confident Yousaf could survive a no confidence if he worked with Alba MP Ash Regan but it may not be enough to save him from having to resign later.

He added: “I think he will survive this vote but I think the damage to his reputation means he will not survive much longer. If you think about the way Humza operates and look at the problems he has had, he always acts too late.”

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