Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
RIVALS RACE TO REPLACE ALEX
Gray and Di Mascio in bid for Holyrood nomination
Airdrie MP Neil Gray and councillor Paul Di Mascio are both bidding to replace Alex Neil as the town’s MSP at next year’s Holyrood election.
The politicians have both announced their intentions to be the SNP’s candidate for Airdrie & Shotts at May’s ballot, bidding to retain the seat which the retiring representative has held for the past decade.
Nominations close on September 14, with any ballot of local branch members then expected to take place next month.
Mr Gray – who would have to resign from Westminster two months before the Holyrood election to stand – says he ha s the “local profile, experience and ability to hit the ground running” after five years in the House of Commons, while Airdrie South councillor Di Mascio says he would be “honoured and privileged to represent the area in which I have lived my entire life”.
Both made their bids following Mr Neil’s announcement he is standing down after 22 years as an MSP.
Mr Gray, who has won the Airdrie seat at three general elections, told the Advertiser: “This is going to be a crucial election for the SNP and Scotland’s future – for us to get a second independence referendum, we need to have a really good showing in seats
like Airdrie & Shotts. I’ve got a great track record from three general elections, I’ve dealt with 14,000 cases and have campaigned with Alex Neil to stop Monklands Hospital going to Gartcosh. If it wasn’t for our intervention, that decision would already have been taken.
“Serving at Holyrood would give me more time in the constituency, rather than being in London for most of the week, which is important as the principal role is to be the representative for people here and fight their case on important issues.
“I participated in the opening of the Scottish Parliament as a schoolboy and I’ve always seen Holyrood as Scotland’s national parliament and where you can have the most influence and biggest impact for constituents – it’s about where I can put my abilities to the best use, where best I can deploy myself, and making sure the best candidate is in place.”
SNP rules mean Mr Gray could not be both an MP and MSP – and winning the Holyrood candidacy would mean he would have to resign from his current seat in March before contesting the new one on May 6 so that a Westminster by-election could take place on the same date.
He said of the electoral gamble: “It’s a big decision, but I’ve been encouraged by the support I’ve received from people in the Airdrie & Shotts branch and from colleagues across Scotland, recognising the importance of this election and asking me to stand. I’d need to resign in March so that a by-election could take place on the same day, for minimum cost and disruption to the parliament and representation.
“I want to do my best in the way I feel I best can and I’m focused on my role of giving local people the good representation they deserve, and that won’t change.”
Cllr Di Mascio, who is business manager for North Lanarkshire’s SNP group as well as being its enterprise spokesperson, says he has been encouraged and “approached by many local members asking me to run” for the Holyrood nomination.
He said: “I anticipate that these will be historic elections which will lead to an independence referendum, and I want to be at the centre helping lead Airdrie & Shotts through that successfully.
This area needs a hard-working, passionate MSP who will be the people’s voice in Holyrood and to help constituents whilst also leading the party’s charge locally.
“I have a track record of working hard for constituents, giving strong representation, working with community groups and influencing partners at all levels on behalf of constituents and the party membership.
“This has included taking the lead during local and national campaigns, including that to keep Monklands Hospital in Monklands, and Neil Gray’s recent Westminster campaign in which we achieved an increased majority.
“I am honoured and privileged to serve constituents in my current Airdrie South ward and would be delighted to continue to serve them and the wider communities throughout Airdrie & Shotts.”
Cllr Di Mascio added: “This year has been difficult for Scotland and the people of Airdrie & Shotts. I have worked tirelessly to support constituents and there’s much more to do. This will be a crucial election at a difficult time because of coronavirus and Brexit.
“I would be immensely honoured to represent Airdrie & Shotts as our MSP and work hard to help support the community through these challenging times and see Airdrie & Shotts thrive as we recover from recent events.”
Labour’s candidate for Airdrie & Shotts is Scottish party leader Richard Leonard, the Central Scotland MSP, who also stood in the constituency in 2016 but lost out to Mr Neil.