THE FIRST of the region’s candidates standing at next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections have been announced.
South Scotland SNP MSP Emma Harper will contest the Scottish Conservatives’ Finlay Carson in Galloway and West Dumfries.
Ms Harper, a qualified nurse who joined the party in 2010, said: “I am delighted to have been selected as the SNP candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries constituency to contest next year’s Holyrood election.
“This is my home region and I look forward to continuing working with constituents, communities and businesses, to champion the issues that affect us all and I look forward to supporting everyone in the future.”
The party will also stand current regional representative Joan McAlpine in Dumfriesshire, contesting Tory MSP Oliver Mundell’s seat.
Commenting, Ms McAlpine said: “I’m delighted to have won the support of so many local party members to become the SNP candidate for the Dumfriesshire constituency. I’m now very much looking forward to working with our committed and hard-working local activists to win this seat from the Tories next May.
“The pandemic meant things were a bit different this year, with all the hustings taking place online. However, the membership were still able to be fully engaged in the process and I’d like to thank my opponents for a very respectful and thoughtful campaign.”
Mr Mundell, who gained just 1230 more votes than Ms McAlpine in 2016, said following his re-selection: “While this election will be very different, there is no doubt the choice facing voters will be the same and that local people will need to decide between the threat of independence under the SNP or a strong local champion who always puts the unique cross-border and rural needs of our region first.”
He added: “Having picked up the tactical support of many local people, who would not traditionally vote Conservative at the last election and looking at the national polls, then people will need to do the same again if they do not want this constituency to turn yellow.”
Annandale South Councillor Richard Brodie will stand for the Liberal Democrats’ in Dumfriesshire. The former Annan Academy teacher and founder of Eastrigg’s Devils Porridge Museum said he will offer “a distinct message of hope to local voters.”
He added: “I will be a strong voice for Dumfriesshire, calling for the Scottish Government to return powers and jobs to Dumfries and Galloway. The Nationalists closed the police call centre in Dumfries and have not replaced these centralised jobs. They closed the district court in Annan and now Langholmites face an 80 mile round trip to Dumfries for justice.”
On Tuesday Mr Brodie launched his campaign in Moffat alongside Tweedsdale Councillor Catriona Bhatia, daughter of ex-Liberal Democrats’ leader David Steel, who has been selected as lead Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for the South of Scotland Holyrood regional list.
Catriona said: “I am looking forward to campaigning across the South of Scotland. Our area, with its stunning natural environment and its innovative businesses, has so much potential to have a vibrant, rural economy and be part of the green recovery that the LibDems are calling for.”
