Heartbroken by Cameron Tory move
An SNP election candidate has described being left“heartbroken” after Lisa Cameron dramatically quit the party to join the Conservatives.
Grant Costello is bidding to become the next MP for East Kilbride at the general election expected later this year.
The town has been represented by Cameron since 2015 after she won reelection in 2017 and 2019 as a Nationalist candidate.
But the MP infuriated many of her SNP colleagues in October last year when she crossed the floor of the House of Commons to sit as a Conservative.
Costello, a local party activist, had by then already announced his intention to stand against Cameron in an internal selection process.
Asked if it was a relief when she defected to the Tories, he told the Record: “It wasn’t a relief. I was really, really disappointed in her.
“Lisa and I had our differences, clearly, as I ran against her. But she was elected for a centre-left party, on a pro-independence and pro-European Union manifesto.
“She has signed up to a political party that is the anathema to everything she said she was going to stand up and represent.
“I was really disappointed in what she did. I obviously hoped I was going to win – and I am very confident I would have won the ballot quite substantially.
“But no, I wasn’t relieved – I was genuinely heartbroken. I had campaigned for her. Back in 2015 I thought we had a good representative.”
Cameron’s decision to defect was previously branded an “odd tantrum” by SNP president Mike Russell.
The party veteran claimed it was “absolutely clear the constituency party had lost faith in her”.
But Cameron blamed a “toxic culture” among the SNP group of MPs for her decision to defect.
The MP said she was prescribed antidepressants and received counselling as a result of treatment she claims to have received during her time in the SNP.
Cameron is stepping down at the next election and will not stand again in East Kilbride.
The SNP is defending a comfortable majority of more than 13,000 in the constituency but faces a challenge from a revitalised Scottish Labour.
Costello, who works as a digital media manager for the party, said he relished the challenge.
“This is a change election,” he added. “But if you want true change it’s not by voting for a Labour party who, at every opportunity under Keir Starmer’s leadership, is moving closer to the current Tory government.”
He added: “I think every election is tough. It is good to be challenged by your opponents.
“Democracy is only successful when we’re all putting forward the best ideas. Do I think we have the best ideas, the best vision? Yes, I do. I’m the only candidate in this election, so far, who was born and bred in East Kilbride and knows the town like the back of my hand.”
Joani Reid, a former Labour councillor and the granddaughter of legendary trade unionist Jimmy Reid, is standing for Keir Starmer’s party in the constituency.
Following her defection, Dr Cameron said: “I have always sought to serve all constituents across East Kilbride Strathaven and Lesmahagow no matter their views on constitutional issues and that will never change.”
Dr Cameron claimed previously that she had been “ostracised” by the SNP after speaking out over sexual harassment allegations against former Westminster chief whip Patrick Grady. She also revealed she suffered panic attacks and needed counselling over ‘bullying’ treatment from her Westminster colleagues.