Glasgow councillor sets sights on Argyll and Bute
A current Glasgow city councillor has announced her ambition to stand as an SNP candidate for Argyll and Bute at next year’s Holyrood election.
Rhiannon Spear, originally from Bute, is hoping to be selected to the seat vacated by veteran SNP politician Michael Russell.
Mr Russell, aged 67, plans to step down after 22 years in politics ahead of next May’s elections to the Scottish Parliament.
The party will host an all-woman shortlist as the party moves to improve gender balance.
Ms Spear, aged 29, went to school on Bute before moving to Glasgow in 2008 to study law at university, and is currently the National Women’s Convenor for the SNP.
She said: ‘It’s definitely my home constituency and obviously growing up there, going to school there and having all of my family still living on the island, I truly understand the area, the challenges it faces, and the massive opportunities and potential that it holds, from the people who live there and the talent the region holds.
‘It would be the honour of my life to represent the area. I’m one of those people who moved away to go to university and to have the opportunity to move home and represent Bute would be a dream for me.’
She described Mr Russell as an ‘incredible representative for the area’ who would leave big shoes to fill.
Ms Spear was elected to the council in 2017 to represent Greater Pollok and also made the Glasgow list for MSP in 2016.