MP Gray says he’s the man to replace outgoing Alex Neil

Shotts MP Neil Gray has announced he will be seeking his party’s nomination to succeed Alex Neil as the town’s MSP.

Mr Gray, senior member of Ian Blackford’s frontbench team at Westminster as Work and Pensions spokesperson, would need to stand down as an MP by March in order for the UK Parliament by-election to be held on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections.

Neil Gray became the first SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts in 2015 and has held the seat in the subsequent two General Elections.

He said:“Alex Neil leaves big shoes to fill but I have worked closely with him for many years and have had the pleasure of representing the people of Airdrie and Shotts at Westminster for over five years.

“I have used that platform to work day in day out for local people, businesses and charities giving me the local profile and track record to hit the ground running in this crucial Holyrood election campaign.

“Next year’s Holyrood election will be the most important yet for the SNP.

“To win independence we need to win in Airdrie and Shotts and having represented the area I have the profile and experience to help make that happen.

“I will utilise my experience as part of the SNP frontbench team at Westminster in Scotland’s national parliament to help shape a better Scotland and to continue to work for people in Airdrie and Shotts on the issues that matter to them.”

One of Mr Gray’s rivals for the SNP nomination will be Paul Di Mascio, who is a councillor for the Airdrie South ward and is business manager of the party’s group on North Lanarkshire Council.

Councillor Di Mascio, who is also secretary of the party’s Airdrie and Shotts constituency branch, says he has“been approached by many local members asking me to run”.