Tories select candidate

SANDWICK man Cameron Smith has been chosen as the Conservative candidate to contest the Shetland seat at next May’s Scottish Parliament election.

The 28 year old currently works as a policy adviser to the European Conservatives and Reformists group at the European Parliament in Brussels.

He said he was determined to set out the Scottish Conservatives’ vision as an “alternative to the failing SNP administration and floundering Labour Party”.

He went to school in Sandwick and Lerwick before achieving a masters in law from the University of Edinburgh in 2009.

He said: “In areas under their control, such as health, education and policing, the SNP in government have precious little to claim as successes.

“Their record is even weaker on issues of particular importance to Shetland, exemplified by the current chaos surrounding the fishing discard ban.”

“I believe that more must be done to return local control over key issues to Shetland, far beyond simple political slogans that promote “island proofing” yet in practice are met with increasing centralisation over all areas of government.”

Smith has been active in campaigning with the local Conservative association and has worked on recent campaigns including the Better Together referendum effort.

Local party chairman Maurice Mullay said: “We are delighted to have an outstanding young local Conservative candidate for Shetland of the calibre and quality of Cameron Smith.

“He can represent the islands and islanders’ interests at the highest levels with ability, confidence, diligence and enthusiasm.

“Scottish Conservatives are now the main opposition party to the SNP in the Scottish Parliament.”

So far two other candidates for the Shetland seat have been announced: sitting MSP Tavish Scott for the Liberal Democrats, and Danus Skene for the SNP.