He studied law at the University of Glasgow where he was a member of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association. 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.
He is viewed as being amongst the more moderate of the SNP MSPs. His wife, Margaret Ewing is the MSP for the neighbouring constituency of Moray. His sister, Annabel Ewing is the MP for Perth.