NEW MP JOHN’S PRIDE
Vow to work for local area
I will fight for this constituency and for Scotland every single day John Nicolson MP
John Nicolson is the new Member of Parliament for Ochil and South Perthshire.
The SNP candidate topped the poll following last Thursday’s Westminster General Election after securing 26,882 votes, a majority of 4498 over runner-up and previous incumbent Luke Graham of the Conservatives
There was a 73.56 per cent turnout in the constituency in what was the first December election since 1923 – up by 2.9 per cent from the 70.66 per cent turnout in the 2017 vote.
The SNP was also victorious in the neighbouring Perth and North Perthshire and Stirling seats.
But Mr Nicolson said: “I’m very pleased with the result across Scotland, but my pleasure is tempered by what I see south of the border. Boris Johnson has a thumping majority.
“It’s terrifying what that means for the constituency and the country.
“It’s bad news for Scotland. Boris Johnson owes us absolutely nothing.
“I intend to go down to Westminster to fight hard to resist the sort of policies Boris Johnson will implement.”
In his acceptance speech at Alloa Town Hall, Mr Nicolson continued: “I have been intrigued at the message the Scottish Conservatives has been running throughout this campaign which was ‘give Nicola [Sturgeon] a message’.
“Well, you know what? Scotland has given a message to Nicola tonight and the message is quite clear.
“The message is we do not trust Boris Johnson. We do not believe in his sham prophecies over ‘getting a Brexit deal done’.
“It is perhaps the most vacuous political slogan of modern times.
“The Scottish Conservative Party when told to jump by Downing Street has only one question – ‘how high?’
“Voters want MPs who will go down to Westminster and stand up for Scotland in Westminster – not to represent Westminster in Scotland.
“So I have only one intention when I go down to Westminster, and that is to fight for this constituency and to fight for Scotland every single day, because Boris Johnson is ghastly enough now.
“Can you imagine what he’s going to be like with his huge majority?”
Mr Graham, who received 22,384 votes in total, admitted: “It’s never a great result to lose.
“All I would just say, in these jobs you should try to give your everything to represent and stand up for the communities that you live in and you serve in and try to represent down in Westminster.
“I thank my team, who have worked tirelessly since I got elected back in 2017.
“There is still plenty going on in Scottish politics and British politics and we are the only party that wants to play fair in both, so I look forward to having plenty more action here in Clackmannanshire and in Perth and Kinross.”
The Conservatives won the 2017 vote with 22,469 votes
Mr Graham – who said he would “continue to help in any way” with local community groups – added: “I am obviously disappointed. My vote has held from 2017 but tactical votes have come into play.
“I think I have a few rounds left in me.” Labour’s Lorna Robertson finished third with 4961 votes and said: “It’s been a disappointing night for the Labour Party.
“Luckily enough I love my job in the NHS and I will be back there on Monday.”
Liberal Democrat Iliyan Stefanov garnered 3204 votes and said: “I have improved the result [from 2017, by 1742].
“I hope Luke continues working for the constituency and we will all be looking to John to deliver on his promises.”
UKIP candidate Stuart Martin lost his deposit with only 382 votes and did not appear for the declaration.