I’ll battle to win back Kennedy’s seat, says friend

A FRIEND of former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy will take on the SNP’s Westminster leader in a bid to win back his old Commons seat for the party.

Craig Harrow has been selected by the Scottish Liberal Democrats as their candidate for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency.

Fighting the seat would be a ‘fitting tribute to Charles’, he said.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie described Mr Harrow as a ‘high-calibre candidate’ who has a ‘great chance of winning back Charles Kennedy’s old seat’.

He said doing so would send a signal to the Scottish Government that people are ‘firmly opposed to another divisive independence referendum’.

Mr Harrow, a former Scottish Liberal Democrat Party convener, said he was ‘determined to be a champion in parliament for Ross, Skye and Lochaber’.

He added: ‘With the party’s deep roots in the Highlands and islands, we understand the special challenges that come with living here. I will make sure those challenges are addressed by government.’

Mr Kennedy represented the area as an MP at Westminster from 1983 to 2015, losing the seat to Ian Blackford – following a bitter campaign – as the SNP swept the board at the general election in May of that year.

Supporters of Mr Kennedy were unhappy about tactics used by Mr Blackford, who went on to become his party’s Westminster leader.

Mr Harrow said: ‘The unpleasantness around Charles Kennedy’s last general election campaign has been widely reported and commented upon.

‘It caused much upset and anxiety with many of Charles’s friends and supporters. I am determined to win the parliamentary seat back from the SNP in a way that Charles would be proud of.

‘We need an uplifting, positive campaign for the Highlands and islands. On issues like health services, transport, education, social care, energy costs and jobs, I am determined to be a strong voice.’

Mr Kennedy died in June 2015 following a long battle against alcoholism.