Broadband speeds debate

The candidates for the race to be named Stirling’s Member of Parliament have been confirmed.

A total of five candidates will compete in the ‘snap’ General Election, which will take place on June 8.

Incumbent Steven Paterson will attempt to retain the seat he won two years ago, when he gained a majority of 10,480 over closest competitor Labour’s Johanna Boyd.

Braehead Community Council chairman and recently elected Stirling East Councillor Chris Kane will stand for Labour this time round.

Stephen Kerr will be hoping to build on a recent upsurge in voting for the Conservatives at the Stirling Council elections.

The Bridge of Allan businessman finished third in 2015, polling 12,051 votes.

Wendy Chamberlain, a former member of the police force and communications lecturer, will stand for the Lib Dems – and will hope to gain on the 1,392 votes Elisabeth Wilson gained at the last count.

The candidates from the bigger parties are joined on the ballot paper by Stirling University professor Kirstein Rummery.

Standing for the Women’s Equality Party, she has pledged to raise issues that the other parties will not and fight for equality for women. Turnout at the last election was 77.5 per cent, with 52,135 Stirling residents registering their ballots at polling stations.

Mr Paterson gained the seat with a swing of 22.5 per cent, taking over from Labour’s Anne McGuire – who retired having been in the post since 1997.

The Greens have opted not to field a candidate at this year’s election, saying that members will focus on their day jobs rather than taking part in an election ‘driven by political opportunism.’

Mark Ruskell – who is now a list MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife – picked up 1,606 votes in 2015.

The polls will open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, June 8, with registration open until next Monday (May 22).

You must be over 18 to vote and for more information, visit www. gov.uk/register-to-vote

In this edition we asked the candidates for their thoughts on rural broadband around Stirling, and what can be done to improve communications around the area.

With rural communities calling for improvements to internet speeds, a series of projects have been launched to help bring fibre broadband to outlying areas.

This includes the Digital Scotland programme which has been extended to areas such as Killin, Lochearnhead and Strathyre.