Skene recovering well

SNP candidate Danus Skene is making “tremendous progress” in recovering from serious illness and is now continuing his recuperation at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

Skene had taken ill when he returned to the UK following a trip to Kenya in January and underwent surgery in Aberdeen. He was recently transferred back to Shetland.

“It’s good to be back home, and to be making tremendous progress, thanks to the wonderful treatment I’ve had from the NHS staff in Aberdeen and now Lerwick,” Skene said.

“It’s been very interesting to see, at first hand, how essential it is to keep our NHS clear of the sort of wanton privatization the Tories are imposing south of the border.”

Skene, who came a close second to Alistair Carmichael in last year’s Westminster election in the Northern Isles, is seeking to wrest the Shetland seat from Liberal Democrat Tavish Scott. Other confirmed candidates are Labour’s Robina Barton and the Tories’ Cameron Smith.

SNP branch spokesman Robbie McGregor said: “We’re very pleased that Danus is on the mend and we look forward to him taking an active part in winning this constituency.

“Shetland needs an SNP member in Holyrood to put the islands’ case to the government in a reasonable, friendly and constructive manner, rather than the endless attack mode of the Liberal Democrats.”