Boswell bows out after two years

Phil Boswell called it a “phenomenal privilege” to have been Coatbridge’s MP for the past two years.

The SNP politician lost his seat to Hugh Gaffney of Labour as voters in the snap election registered a 13 per cent swing back to the party who had previously represented the town for eight decades.

He told the Advertiser: “I’m obviously disappointed as I was very much looking forward to continuing.

“I think it’s about the conflation of issues. This was a Westminster campaign which the other parties have set out as a constitutional issue when it’s not about that at all and, had the campaign been fought on issues and the SNP’s record in Parliament, I think it would have been a different outcome.

“The SNP worked really hard and set up a strong campaign but I think we were set up to fight an anticipated Tory majority more than the Labour Party.

“Credit where it’s due: I think Jeremy Corbyn’s done a good job and is looking at creating a fairer Britain and is copying a lot of the manifesto issues that we have here in Sscotland, such as free tuition fees and the triple-lock pension.”

Mr Boswell added:“I still very much believe the SNP is the right party for Scotland.

“I’m happy that we’re going to fight austerity in the UK because I firmly believe it but disappointed that I won’t get the chance to head south and go to the next phase of this work in progress.”

He said that a highlight of his two years as the constituency representative had been working with community groups, such as suicide prevention charity Chris’s House and Shining Stars theatre group for youngsters with additional support needs, saying:“It’s been wonderful to see these coming together, applying for grants and fledgling organisations benefiting from the lessons learned.”

The former MP added of his time in Parliament: “It’s been wonderful, a complete departure from what I’m used to. It was interesting and it’s a unique business.”