Evelyn is SNP choice to fight Holyrood seat
Stirling councillor hopes to replace Bruce Crawford
A Stirling councillor has been chosen as SNP candidate for the Stirling constituency in next year’s Holyrood election.
Trossachs and Teith councillor Evelyn Tweed was selected out of a field of seven to become the party’s candidate.
She is hoping to replace Bruce Crawford, retiring after 32 years at Holyrood, as Stirling MSP.
Ms Tweed, who worked as a housing association executive for 25 years, was elected to Stirling Council in 2017 and has held the housing portfolio on the local authority.
She is a member of the SNP Trade Union Group and lives in Dunblane with her husband Ahsan and two children.
Commenting on her selection, she said this week: “I’m grateful to Stirling SNP members for selecting me to be their candidate at next year’s election.
“Bruce Crawford leaves a significant legacy to the Stirling area and to Scottish politics. I promise, if elected, I will work hard to continue his work to deliver for this area.”
She described the May 2021 election as a “crucial” one, adding: “It goes without saying that next year’s election is the most important we’ve ever had in Scotland.
“Not only is good government and strong leadership for our country in the form of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the ballot, but so is our country’s right to choose what our own future is to be.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a reality check for our country about what our values need to be. It’s also shown us the power of having full control over our own affairs.
“However, whilst I support Scotland’s independent future, I will not take every vote for the SNP as a vote for independence; but I will take it as a vote from someone who is willing to have the discussion.”
The new SNP candidate was this week backed by colleagues Mr Crawford and Stirling MP Alyn Smith.
Mr Smith said: “Residents in Trossachs and Teith know Evelyn well as a hardworking councillor. She’s someone who really gets the issues and the circumstances that people are facing.
“If elected to Holyrood, I’ve no doubt that she will be an effective advocate for the interests of all people in the Stirling constituency.”
Mr Crawford added: “We can’t mess around at the election next year. The choice is clear: re-elect an SNP government to Holyrood so that we can continue to stand up to the insular politics of Boris Johnson, offering Scotland a bright future as an independent nation; or allow our country to be pushed around, forced to put up with all the damage of Brexit that our country has rejected.”
Ms Tweed’s Conservative opponent in May’s poll, current Mid Scotland and Fife list MSP, Dean Lockhart said: “I congratulate Councillor Tweed on securing the SNP nomination.
“As a serving councillor her support for the very unpopular bin collection cuts and charges will not be forgotten.
“She would do well to listen to the concerns of the people of Stirling and put their interests first rather than blindly follow her party’s line on every occasion.
“I extend an open invitation to debate the SNP’S repeated failures in government.”
Bruce Crawford leaves a significant legacy to the Stirling area and to Scottish politics. I promise, if elected, I will work hard to continue his work to deliver for this area Evelyn Tweed