16 Facts About Annabelle Ewing

Annabelle Ewing was Scotland's Minister for Youth and Women's Employment from 2014 to 2016, and Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs from 2016 to 2018.

Annabelle Ewing's brother, Fergus Ewing, is an MSP in the Scottish Parliament, and their mother, Winnie Ewing, previously served as an MSP, MP and MEP.

Annabelle Ewing attended Craigholme School for Girls in Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, where she graduated with a law degree.

Annabelle Ewing's brother is MSP Fergus Ewing, and her sister-in-law was the late Margaret Ewing, who had been an MSP and an MP.

Annabelle Ewing has been involved in a number of Parliamentary campaigns, including fighting for the rights of people with Hepatitis C, and working to gain a public enquiry into the events at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, where James Collinson, a constituent, died on 23 March 2002.

Annabelle Ewing was first selected as a SNP candidate for the UK Parliament to contest a by-election for Hamilton South in 1999, the constituency where her mother had won a famous by-election victory in 1967.

In 2001, Annabelle Ewing stood for the UK Parliament again, this time in Perth, where Roseanna Cunningham had been the MP.

Annabelle Ewing was elected, defeating the Conservative candidate by just 48 votes, giving her the narrowest majority in Scotland.

Annabelle Ewing sought to become SNP candidate for Moray in the 27 April 2006 Scottish Parliament by-election to succeed her late sister-in-law, Margaret Ewing.

Annabelle Ewing was defeated by North East Scotland MSP Richard Lochhead who went on to win the seat in the by-election.

Annabelle Ewing was later selected to contest the Falkirk East seat in the 2007 election on behalf of the SNP as a replacement for the previously selected candidate, the late Douglas Henderson.

Annabelle Ewing contested Ochil and South Perthshire for a second time at the 2010 election, failing again to take it from Gordon Banks, this time on an increased swing away from the SNP to Labour.

At the 2011 election Annabelle Ewing was elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional member for the Mid Scotland and Fife region.

Annabelle Ewing is famed due to an incident that occurred on 16 December 2004, whereby the Deputy Speaker removed her from the House as she refused to apologise for calling the then Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon a "back-stabbing coward" during exchanges over Geoff Hoon's plans to merge Scottish Regiments, including the Black Watch.

Annabelle Ewing was promoted to the Scottish Government on 21 November 2014 in Nicola Sturgeon's first Cabinet reshuffle.

Annabelle Ewing became Minister for Youth and Women's Employment, transferring to the Community Safety and Legal Affairs portfolio in 2016.