Christine Jardine, who was widely recognised to have put in a great performance as candidate in the Aberdeen Donside by-election last June, has been selected as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Gordon, the constituency currently represented by our new Deputy Leader, Sir Malcolm Bruce. She is pictured second from the right here next to Sir Malcolm.

Christine is a journalist who previously worked in Aberdeen for the Deeside Piper and the BBC. She also spent a year as a Special Adviser in Downing Street.

Nick Clegg was quick to tweet his congratulations, although he needs to learn that the hashtag from that energetic and happy campaign in the Summer is actually #teamchristine:

Fantastic news that @CAJardine has been selected as PPC for Gordon. She will make an excellent and hard working MP #teamjardine

— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) January 28, 2014

And our new PPC might have been walking the corridors of power 18 months ago, but she’s still normal enough to get a bit starstruck when the Deputy Prime Minister called:

Delighted @nick_clegg just called to congratulate me on being LibDem PPC for Gordon #mademyday — christine jardine (@CAJardine) January 28, 2014

Willie Rennie called her a feisty character and a hard worker who would deliver for Gordon. Malcolm Bruce congratulated her too:

I am delighted that Gordon Liberal Democrats have chosen Christine Jardine as their candidate following my decision to stand down at the next General Election. Christine has strong local connections. I have no doubt that she will campaign energetically across Gordon and take up the issues that matter in the city and shire.

He also tweeted his support:

Congrats to Christine Jardine on selection as Gordon Lib Dem PPC. Great campaigner and communicator. She will make a fine MP.

— Malcolm Bruce (@malcolmbruce) January 28, 2014

Christine herself is looking forward to the challenge:

It’s a privilege to be given this opportunity. We have a tremendous record in Aberdeenshire and especially in Gordon where Malcolm Bruce has been a strong and effective voice for 30 years.

Over the next 16 months I intend to meet as many people as possible to hear their views and discuss how Liberal Democrats in this Government have been working hard to lower taxes and raise pensions for ordinary people in the North East.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings