Candidates throw hats into Moray election ring
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TWO candidates have already thrown their hats into the ring to contest Moray at the forthcoming general election.
Prime Minister Theresa May stunned the country with her recent announcement of a snap general election to be held on June 8.
The battleground in Moray is already taking shape, with sitting SNP MP Angus Robertson and Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Douglas Ross declaring their candidacy for the seat.
Mr Robertson, who leads the 54-strong SNP group at Westminster, said he would be running on his record, going on to describe the Conservatives as a "menace to Moray and the country".
"I have been honoured to represent Moray since 2001, have a strong record standing up for the region and have helped literally thousands of constituents," he said.
"The campaign in Moray will be a straight fight between me and the Conservatives and I urge Moray voters to show the Tories the red card.
"While the Tories were trying to close local military bases I successfully campaigned to save them. While the Tories have been undermining local industries and services I have worked to protect them.
"Moray is an area where many people are on low incomes and Tory austerity has been making life increasingly difficult. I have been a strong voice for fairness and opportunity.
"I don’t have any other jobs outside politics, so I am completely focused on my elected responsibilities. I would be honoured to be re-elected as the MP for Moray and re-commit myself to working for constituents regardless of their political views."
Last Monday evening saw Mr Ross receive the unanimous backing of Moray Conservatives to contest the seat for the party. He has previously fought the seat at both UK and Scottish elections, with the 2015 Holyrood poll seeing him reduce the SNP majority from 11,000 to 3000. He has for the past 10 years been the Tory councillor for Fochabers-Lhanbryde and is standing down at the May 4 local government election.
Mr Ross commented: "I’m extremely honoured to have been selected and am looking forward enormously to the election campaign.
"If elected to Westminster I will resign my seat from the Scottish Parliament to allow me to concentrate all my efforts on working on behalf of the people of Moray. I have had the great privilege of representing local people for the last 10 years as a councillor and over the past year in the Scottish Parliament. I want to continue that representation at Westminster.
"In June, people can choose to elect someone who has been born and brought up in Moray with a real understanding of issues that matter to us here and in Scotland within a strong United Kingdom, or they can vote for a nationalist whose number one priority is pushing for a second divisive independence referendum."
Mr Ross went on to reiterate his opposition to a second independence referendum.
"I have put my name forward for this election because I believe I am the best candidate to stand up against the SNP and their plan to break up Britain," he continued.
"I also believe we have to get the best deal for Moray, Scotland and the UK from Brexit, not ignore the decision people took last June. The SNP say they don’t want to be ruled by Westminster, but do want to be ruled by Europe. Many people in Moray disagree with that.
"The SNP have started their campaign negatively showing their fear about holding this seat. Unlike the SNP I will not stoop to making personal attacks during the campaign. I will be concentrating on the real issues that matter to voters."
The seat was held by the Conservatives until 1987 when it was claimed by the SNP, who have held it at subsequent Westminster and Holyrood elections.
