Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
MacGregor will stand in next election
Coatbridge’s MSP has confirmed that he will be standing in the Holyrood election to seek a second term at the Scottish Parliament.
Fulton MacGregor says it has been“an honour and privilege to represent the amazing constituency where I was born, raised, went to school and consider my home”for the past four years.
He won the Coatbridge & Chryston seat for the SNP at the 2016 election, defeating incumbent Elaine Smith with a majority of nearly 4000; and had served as a councillor for the town’s North ward for the previous four years.
Mr MacGregor told the Advertiser:“It would be an immense honour to be given the opportunity to retain this seat next year and build on what we have started together.
“I’ll stand on my strong record of standing up for Coatbridge & Chryston, and Scotland, in the parliament and here in the local area.”
He confirmed that he has completed the party’s candidate vetting process and has submitted his official letter – both to his constituency branch and to the national secretary to seek the new nomination.
The MSP added of his first five-year term at Holyrood:“During this there have been two general elections, the EU referendum and ensuing Brexit process .
“But without doubt, the most challenging time for all us has been the current pandemic. My office has dealt with an unprecedented volume of queries during this time and I hope that constituents feel that my team and I have been on hand to help through these uncertain times, as well as in the period before Covid-19.
“I want to thank everyone in the constituency for their support and the faith they have put in me; and whether people voted for me or not in 2016, I hope they agree that I will always represent all constituents as best I can.”
Nominations closed on Monday for potential SNP candidates in neighbouring Airdrie & Shotts, where Alex Neil is standing down after 22 years at Holyrood.
The Labour candidate in the constituency will be Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard.