Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Leonard to once again contest Airdrie seat for Labour
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard will again contest the Airdrie seat at the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.
He was unanimously chosen as the candidate for Airdrie & Shotts by constituency party members at a meeting in Gartlea community centre.
Mr Leonard had also contested the seat at the 2016 Holyrood election, losing out to incumbent SNP representative Alex Neil. The former trade union official was then elected to the parliament under the proportional representation system as a member for Central Scotland, having been voted top of Labour’s party list in the region.
Mr Leonard said:“There is no greater honour and responsibility than being a Labour candidate – the people of Airdrie & Shotts deserve better than the economic policies of the Tories and the abject failure of the SNP to make any difference.
“Scottish Labour has a positive alternative; we will deliver investment in communities, people and public services and have plans for public ownership of public services.
“We have a vision of the future where young people have decent and secure employment, where older people have dignity in retirement, where communities have a greater say and more power to protect their local environment, and where everyone can access health and medical care locally, free at the point of need.”
Constituency party secretary Chris Costello told the Advertiser:“Richard has a track record of supporting local people and causes.
“His support for the campaign to save the local greenbelt, to keep Monklands Hospital in Monklands and for the workers at HES are well known, but the causes and individual issues he takes up every day are also important.
“Members are delighted that Richard is our candidate and very pleased he chose to stand to be the candidate for Airdrie & Shotts, and this was reflected in the vote he received – those at the meeting and those who voted by post gave him their backing.
“This is a real vote of confidence that Richard Leonard is the person to secure Airdrie & Shotts for Scottish Labour.”
Mr Neil has held the constituency seat since 2011 and currently has a majority of 6192; it was previously held by Karen Whitefield of Labour, who had won the Airdrie & Shotts seat at the first three Holyrood elections, dating back to 1999.