Policitian and champion of Scottish devolution. Born in Cowdenbeath (Fife), the son of a miner and socialist, Ewing was educated at Beith High School and went to work in a foundry after completing his National Service (1949-51). He then joined the Post Office and became an official of the Union of Post Office Workers. He stood for Parliament as Labour Party candidate in East Fife in 1970, but lost to the sitting MP Conservative Sir John Gilmour (1912 - 2007). Later the same year Ewing won a by-election in Stirling, Falkirk & Grangemouth, serving this constituency until 1983, when he was re-elected to Falkirk East after boundary changes. Ewing was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Scotland for a brief period in 1974 and served as Labour spokesman on Scottish industry (1981-87). He was a Euro-sceptic.
He retired in 1992 and was raised to the peerage as Lord Ewing of Kirkford. He served as Labour spokesman on Scottish affairs in the House of Lords and was appointed Co-Chairman of the Scottish Constitutional Convention but resigned in 1996 in protest at what he saw as Labour's inconsistent policy on devolution. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Fife in 1995.
He died in a Dunfermline hospital.