The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Lib Dems hope to take Fife seat back from SNP
The Lib Dems could take North East Fife back from the SNP, senior figures in the party believe.
Sources close to Scottish leader Willie Rennie, who won the Holyrood constituency last May, are targeting the Westminster seat held by Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s Europe spokesman.
Possible candidates include David Green, who is on the party’s executive committee and previously worked for former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy.
One senior source said: “We are only 4,000 votes behind and the circumstances have changed quite considerably. We are definitely in the frame.”
Mr Gethins said: “For me this is about continuing to work hard for north-east Fife, campaigning against a UK Government that continues to target the poorest and most vulnerable in our society and to oppose unfair policies like the rape clause and changes to women’s pensions.”
Mike Weir will stand for the SNP again in Angus. He said: “At Westminster, my colleagues and I have established ourselves as the only real opposition to the Tories.”
Stewart Hosie is understood to be keen to bid for selection to contest the Dundee East seat for the SNP. He said: “Given where we are in the polls in Scotland, I would be very, very relaxed about the SNP’s prospects.”
Chris Law will also put himself forward again. He said: “I would be proud to stand again as the SNP candidate for Dundee West at a general election against a Tory Party which now sees the chance of grabbing control of government for the foreseeable future and moving the UK further to the right – forcing through a hard Brexit and imposing deeper cuts in the process”
Stephen Gethins is putting himself forward for North East Fife selection. He said: “The SNP will always put the people of Scotland first – and between now and June 8 I will work harder than ever to retain the trust of the people of north-east Fife.”
Peter Grant said he will stand again for Glenrothes. He added: “The PM’s actions amount to yet another broken promise and are motivated purely by the narrow interests of the Tory party with no concern for the interests of Scotland or the rest of the UK.”
Roger Mullin will put himself forward for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath for the SNP. He said: “If there is going to be a general election on June 8, I will fight it.”
Douglas Chapman will bid to be the SNP candidate for Dunfermline and West Fife. He said: “Due to a Tory Prime Minister’s announcement to call a general election barely two years into that term I am keen to finish the job I’ve started and I seek the support of the people of this constituency to see the job through...”
Pete Wishart failed to return requests for clarity about his future.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh confirmed she will stand again for the SNP in Ochil and South Perthshire. She said: “I’ll continue to fight for the best interests of the people of Ochil and South Perthshire.”