Politics / No latecomers to race for isles’ Holyrood seat
THE deadline for Holyrood election nominations passed on Friday with no new applications being lodged – leaving the constituency vote in Shetland as a four-way battle between Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Tories.
It is widely expected to be a two-horse race between incumbent Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott and the SNP’s Danus Skene. Labour’s candidate is Robina Barton, while Cameron Smith represents the Conservatives.
Meanwhile, Orcadian politician James Stockan has put his name forward to stand in the Highlands and Islands constituency on the list vote.
He joins nine parties – the aforementioned four who are contesting the Shetland seat along with RISE (Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism), the Scottish Christian Party, the Scottish Greens, Solidarity and UKIP – in seeking the electorate’s second vote.
Skene is sixth out of 12 candidates on the SNP list, while Barton is seventh out of eight on Labour’s list and Smith is sixth out of seven Conservative list candidates. Scott does not feature on the Lib Dem list.
Ex-SNP MSP Jean Urquhart, who now lives in Shetland, is the top candidate for RISE, a new left wing alliance formed following the referendum.
Stockan said that, as an independent list MSP, he would not have to “tow a party line”, would be able to represent constituents “without infringement” and offer a “strong, local, and independent voice in parliament”.
- You can read more about the policies of all four candidates in the Shetland constituency on our election page here.
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