Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Battle lines drawn as campaigns step up
The general election campaign is in full swing in the Airdrie and Coat bridge constituencies, with four weeks to go until polling day.
Airdrie & Shotts is now the sixth- most marginal seat in Scotland after the SNP held it with a slashed majority of just 195 over Labour two years ago; while Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill switched between the two parties at each of the 2015 and 2017 ballots, with Labour winning by 1586 votes last time out.
Campaigners from the two main parties are also adjusting to the winter election timetable by concentrating their canvassing on daylight hours and switching evening doorstep sessions for a range of community events, phone calls and other forms of contact as they aim to get their messages to voters.
Nominations close tomorrow afternoon, when the full list of names appearing on ballot papers in both constituencies will be published.
Coatbridge Labour candidate Hugh Gaffney says the poll is “one of the most important elections in a generation”; he is bidding for re-election and is being challenged by SNP candidate Steven Bonnar, a North Lanarkshire councillor.
Mr Gaffney said: “I want to continue my work in parliament on the issues which matter to local people such as enhancing workers’ rights, tackling low pay and ending cruel Tory policies such as Universal Credit.
“One of the major local issues will be the future of Monklands Hospital – I’m the only candidate who wants to ensure that it remains on its current site.
“I’ll be out speaking to people about their priorities;
I hope voters will support me based on the work that I’ve been doing and will continue to do in the future to save the Monklands, protect free TV licences and end both Tory and SNP austerity.”
Mr Bonnar described his political journey as a “whirlwind”, after first joining the SNP in the aftermath of the independence referendum, then becoming a councillor for the Thorniewood ward less than a year later.
He told the Advertiser: “This constituency is very fertile ground politically and it’s anybody’s to take between us and Labour.
“My message to voters is that this election is the most crucial in modern times, particularly for Scotland; we need to end the Brexit chaos, which for me is the single biggest act of selfsabotage.
“Brexit will be the overarching question in this election, with Scotland’s right to choose its own path.
“People in Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill voted 61 per cent to remain in the EU and that’s the message on the doorsteps, along with giving the opportunity to choose our own future.
“It’s quite humbling and exciting to be the candidate and I never thought I’d be standing for Westminster at this point as I only started engaging in activism in 2014.
“Since being elected, I have a good track record for getting things done and I’m doing something I’m passionate about.”
Meanwhile, Airdrie SNP candidate Neil Gray is bidding to be re-elected for the third time in just four years; his Labour opposition will again come from Helen McFarlane, who came close to winning the seat two years ago.
Mr Gray said: “I’ve fought for this constituency since 2015, getting out and speaking to as many people as possible and doing street surgeries, and I think I have a good record.
“I’m fighting to stop Monklands Hospital going to Gartcosh, I’ve campaigned on local issues like payouts for Roadchef workers, and for the 1950s WASPI women and to stop removal of TV licences for over-75s; and at the House of Commons, I’ve led for the SNP on work and pensions.
“I’ve never been complacent and I’ll be working hard for every single vote; I hope people will see the work I’ve done in 11,500 cases and giving them a voice.”
Mr Gray will be joined on the campaign trail this Monday by Westminster colleague Mhairi Black, who will speak at a public meeting at the Penny Cars Stadium.
The 7pm event is free but admission is by ticket only, via www. eventbrite. com/ e/ mhairi-black-rallies-for-neilgray
His Labour opponent Ms McFarlane made an early start to her campaign, having been re-selected as the Airdrie candidate last summer.
She said: “I’ve kept involved with the local community since 2017 and that’s helped me be ready, although nothing quite prepares you fully for a snap election as it’s such a full- on time.
“Brexit and constitutional issues are factors but the election is definitely much broader than that – I’ve been telling people that if they want to make this election a referendum, it needs to be on health, universal credit, schools, business, climate change and all these issues.
“Although health is devolved, it always features really strongly in a general election; I’ve been involved since 2017 with the remain and rebuild group at Monklands Hospital and would like to see it on the same site, serving local people.
“We’re also hearing from people about jobs, climate change and local issues like bus services.
“The really strong message is that every vote counts; it’s all to play for after being so close last time and I’m hoping we can get over the line.”