June 8 candidates in East Kilbride and Avondale

The battle for votes in East Kilbride and Avondale has begun after confirmation of next month’s General Election candidates.

Five candidates will fight for election to Westminster as MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.

The SNP’s Dr Lisa Cameron is seeking re-election to the seat she won from Labour’s Michael McCann two years ago.

And she will face off against Labour’s Monique McAdams, Mark McGeever from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrat Paul McGarry and UKIP’s Janice MacKay.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, June 8 and the SNP is defending a majority of 16,527.

Dr Cameron said: “I’ve spoken in 90-plus debates in the last year, served almost 7000 constituency cases, visited 100-plus local organisations and worked tirelessly as chair of the Disability All-Party Parliamentary Group.

“I pledged to be your accessible MP and opened offices in East Kilbride and Strathaven. I’ve fought the plans of the Tory government to close our HMRC, which shows their contempt and undermines our economy, losing thousands of local jobs.”

Ms McAdams, who was elected to South Lanarkshire Council to serve in the East Kilbride West ward earlier this month, set out her list of priorities.

She said: “I am committed to fighting for Labour values of social justice and equality; more investment in social housing, in education, our health service; caring for our vulnerable, disadvantaged and aged.

“Only a vote for Labour on June 8 can bring an end to vicious Tory austerity and cuts which are hitting the poorest and most disadvantaged in our society.”

Mr McGeever, a newly-elected councillor to the Hamilton West and Earnock ward, believes the forthcoming Brexit negotiations increase the importance of this General Election.

He said: “This is one of the most important elections in generations.

“I believe in a confident, prosperous, outward looking and truly global Britain that is a force for good in the world.”

Mr McGarry stood as a council candidate for the East Kilbride South ward and is preparing to knock on doors again.

He said: “If you are looking for a candidate firmly committed to the United Kingdom, abhors full frontal assault on freedom of speech, I’m the only candidate who can fulfil those and give you a genuine choice.”

UKIP’s Ms MacKay has also set out her stall.

“I am anti-EU,” she said. “Britain should be governed by Westminster and not Brussels or Holyrood and I’m against a second independence referendum – the people of Scotland made their decision clear in 2014.”