First hat thrown into the ring for by-election

The first candidate to be declared for next year’s Airdrie MP by-election has begun setting out some of his manifesto pledges.

Jonathan Stanley will be representing the Scottish Unionists in May’s poll to replace Neil Gray, who will be standing down from Westminster in order to stand as the SNP’S candidate for the constituency at the Scottish Parliament.

He told the Advertiser this week:“this is a difficult time for many in the job market.

“So, I call to every candidate to offer to continue to employ the current MP’S staff for at least one year or until Covid restrictions are lifted.

“I will be opposing the current lockdown strategy.”

Dr Stanley announced in September that he would be contesting any Airdrie Westminster by-election, two months before Mr Gray’s selection for the Holyrood candidacy was confirmed.

He will be standing in two different elections – for two different parties – on the same day, as he is also a regional list candidate for the Scottish Parliament, representing Alliance4unity in Lothian; and previously confirmed that “should I initially be elected to both chambers, I would relinquish my Holyrood list place so the next candidate could take office.”

The Westminster candidate previously told the Advertiser: “there’s a lot of potential in places like Airdrie & Shotts and real issues with under-investment.

“I’d fight to secure better funding for services where the SNP has failed and for regional investment in Airdrie where legacy parties haven’t bothered.

“Neil Gray should just stand down right away to let a new person come in, so that Airdrie & Shotts can have a full-time MP representing people at UK level.”

There’s a lot of potential in places like Airdrie & Shotts and real issues with under-investment Jonathan Stanley