THREE new candidates have entered the race to become the first Lothian East MP.
The Conservatives revealed their candidate – Scott Hamilton – yesterday (Wednesday) while the SNP confirmed on Monday that, due to health reasons, long-standing candidate Iain Whyte was stepping down and Lyn Jardine would take his place.
The Lib Dems, meanwhile, were expected to confirm that Duncan Dunlop would be their representative.
They will battle it out against Douglas Alexander (Labour), Robert Davies (Reform UK), George Kerevan (ALBA) and Shona McIntosh (Scottish Greens).
READ MORE: General Election 2024 in East Lothian: What do I need to know?
The newly-named Lothian East constituency features the majority of East Lothian, minus a section of Musselburgh, which is part of the Edinburgh East and Musselburgh constituency.
A new MP will be elected on July 4 after East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill, once of the SNP but now of ALBA, confirmed he was not standing for re-election.
Instead, he is hoping to return to Westminster as the MP for the Alloa & Grangemouth constituency.
Mr Hamilton, who is a councillor in the Scottish Borders, was “thrilled” to have been selected as the Conservative candidate.
He told the Courier he would spend the coming weeks “making the positive case for East Lothian” which, he claimed, had been “badly neglected by the SNP and badly served by a Labour-run council.”
He added: “This election is crucial for the people of East Lothian and for the future of the UK. I will be a strong local representative for the residents of East Lothian, who have been let down by the outgoing ALBA MP, Labour councillors and the local SNP MSP.”
Mr Hamilton was brought up on his family farm in the Scottish Borders. He added: “We need a local MP who acts on local concerns – such as the recent closure of the Belhaven Hospital and the Edington in North Berwick.”
Ms Jardine (SNP), who is leader of the opposition on East Lothian Council, and a councillor for the Dunbar and East Linton ward, said: “Politicians can get a bad rap. We all come to our purpose in different ways.
“I’ve come to mine through a working life and volunteering that serves others.
“I’ve consistently been encouraged by others to stand for office.”
And she added: “With the calling of snap election, that encouragement included my family – despite the challenges we face if Westminster ends up as my workplace.
“I am excited to share that I am confirmed as Parliamentary Candidate for the General Election for Lothian East.”
Mr Dunlop was expected to be announced as the Scottish Lib Dem candidate following a meeting in Haddington last night (Wednesday).
A former CEO of Who Cares? Scotland, Mr Dunlop lives in Dunbar with his wife and two children. A spokesperson for the party said: “Duncan is running to bring experienced, effective leadership to East Lothian. With a proven track record of delivering real change on budget and on time.
“He demonstrates that experience and passion can make a significant difference.
“Duncan cares deeply about Scotland and the UK. He believes we need the political stability the Liberal Democrats offer. They will create conditions that will enhance local prosperity and deliver progress for the entire community."
Mr Alexander was announced as Labour’s candidate more than 15 months ago and is a former Scottish Secretary having served in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s cabinets.
He said: “For more than a year, with friends in East Lothian Labour Party, I’ve been knocking on doors across the county to listen to and understand the concerns of local residents.
“People feel let down by two failing Governments.
“They feel angry about SNP cuts and Conservative chaos. People feel scunnered by the fact that everything is more expensive and nothing seems to work.
“It’s time for change. It’s time for Labour.”
Meanwhile, Mrs McIntosh, who represents the Musselburgh ward on East Lothian Council, said: “I’m standing because the cost of living crisis is fundamentally a cost of fossil fuel crisis, and it will only get worse the longer we delay on climate action.
“East Lothian is vulnerable to climate change, especially in terms of flooding, erosion, and agricultural production.
“But we are also uniquely placed to lead on the renewables revolution that will help to solve these problems.
“We must move beyond this outdated economic system that allows the rich to accrue more profits while driving inequality and a ravaged planet. A vote for the Scottish Greens will ensure we hand on a fairer society and a safer climate to the next generation.”
Mr Kerevan is no stranger to East Lothian having been elected as MP in 2015.
Then, he defeated Labour’s Fiona O’Donnell before losing his seat to Martin Whitfield just two years later.
At that time, Mr Kerevan was representing the SNP but will now be the Alba party candidate.
He said: “It’s a funny election that will change nothing.
“Conservatives are no longer conservative. Labour wants to be the new Conservatives. Greens are more obsessed with identity than environment.
“I’ve had the honour to serve East Lothian as your MP. “I discovered Westminster is remote, over-paid and unreformable.
“Which is why top of my agenda is for Scots to run their own affairs.”
Reform UK’s Mr Davies, who was born in Yorkshire, lives in North Berwick.
He said: “I have become disillusioned with the traditional political parties and can no longer see any difference between them.
“They all seem to support the same crazy policies ie, Net Zero, mass illegal migration and ever more restrictive laws on free speech etc.
“I came across Reform UK Scotland and they just seem like a breath of fresh air with sensible policies that will help to get this country back on its feet.
“Reform UK Scotland is the autonomous Scottish section of Reform UK, the fastest growing political movement in Britain.
“It is significantly different from the parties currently in power.”
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