Awards honour the local heroes of politics

Po l i t i c i a n s across Ta y s i d e and Fife have been shortlisted in this year ’s Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and CCLA Councillor Awards.

Fife Council leads the way locally with three nods, while Dundee City Council has two and Perth and Kinross and Angus Councils have one apiece.

Lochgelly, Cardenden and Benarty SNP councillor Rosemary Liewald is F i f e’s representative in the Covid-19 Hero category, which will celebrate councillors who have championed their local community during the pandemic, and Dunfermline South SNP councillor Fay Sinclair is shortlisted in the Champion for Education category.

Dunfermline North SNP councillor Ian Ferguson is also flying the Fife flag in the Rural Community Champion shortlist.

Dundee north- east SNP councillor Willie Sawers is up in the Lifetime Contribution c at e g o r y, wh i l e his Maryfield SNP colleague Lynne Short is nominated in the Ur b a n Community Champion section.

Representing the Strathallan Ward at Pe r t h and Kinross Council, Conservative Murray Lyle is vying for the Leader of the Year gong while, in Angus, Kirriemuir and Dean SNP councillor Julie Bell has been shortlisted in the New Councillor of the Year category.

Jonathan Carr-West, LGIU Scotland chief executive, said: “From delivering food parcels to vulnerable residents and sourcing PPE for frontline workers to finding temporary accommodation for the homeless, local government has kept the country safe and moving.”

The winners will be revealed at a virtual ceremony on November 24.