Christine Jardine, a former Downing Street Special Adviser, has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Aberdeen Donside Scottish Parliament by-election caused by the death o SNP MSP Brian Adam last month. She is seen second on the right in the photograph, which also features Cllr Steve Delaney, Alison McInnes MSP, Scottish leader Willie Rennie MSP and Sir Malcolm Bruce MP.
The by-election will take place on June 20.
Liberal Democrat Voice readers will be familiar with her name because of occasional LibLinks to her Scotsman columns. As a journalist Christine cut her teeth as editor of local newspaper the Deeside Piper. She went on to work as a radio and TV reporter for the BBC in Aberdeen and Glasgow before heading up the Scottish Press Association. Her strong connection to the area, having lived there with her family for many years and knowledge of the oil and gas industry, critical to the north east, will stand her in good stead in the campaign.
After her selection, Christine said:
The North East needs a strong voice in parliament, not yet another nationalist who will bang the drum for independence.
For too long the SNP government has overlooked Aberdeen. This year alone they short-changed the City Council’s funds to the tune of £20 million.
I’m pressing the SNP Government to reverse their £20 million cut to local council services and for improved rail links to the central belt. Donside towns like Dyce drive the engine of our oil and gas economy, which should mean the North East is better connected to the rest of Scotland.
We can send a powerful message to the Labour council to get on and build the third Don crossing. There should be no more dither and delay over a project with such clear benefits for the local community. These are things we can do for the people of Donside today, building a stronger economy and enabling every person to get on in life.
I will be urging the SNP Government to match the expansion of childcare in England. So far the SNP has blocked our costed and reasonable plans which could benefit over 1000 two year olds in Aberdeen. As a mother I know the value of good childcare and this is a real initiative which could help to build a fairer society.
A vote for me in the by-election is a vote for a strong local team with MP Malcolm Bruce and MSP Alison McInnes.
Willie Rennie added:
Christine will be a strong voice for the North East. As a mother she understands the need for good quality childcare, enabling our young people and families to get on in life.
Working in partnership with local MP Malcolm Bruce and our North East MSP Alison McInnes, Christine is the woman who will work to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society for the people of Donside.
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4 Comments
Don’t forget, Christine – the reason the SNP has shorted changed Aberdeen and all other Councils is so they can spend money on the independence campaign. Every time the SNP put on an independence stunt say that its being done with Aberdeen Tax payers money, which should be going to local services. Its a target rich environment – go for it!
Make sure you publish a Connect link so that those of us far away can help 🙂
This will be a battle between Labour and the SNP, with the likely winner being the SNP who have as their candidate a current list MP, Mark McDonald, who was born and brought up in the constituency, and is destined for advancement within the SNP.
It is likely o follow the pattern of the Moray by-election after the death of Margaret Bain SNP, when Richard Lochhead, then a list MSP, now an SNP cabinet member, resigned his list seat and held the constituency seat for the SNP in 2006.
It will be a close run matter (at best) as to whether any of Lib Dems, Tories or UKIP save their deposit-that is the reality. As for the Greens, who don’t normally fight constituencies for Holyrood, I suspect they will also lose their deposit.
The LibDems will be very lucky to save their deposit. They not only supported the Tories they managed to exceed their right wing rhetoric at times (Trident etc). When I listen to Malcolm Bruce or Ming Campbell now I hear a “Tory” speaking.
I’m afraid that the party having been tested in power and they have failed to retain any of their previously claimed core values.
Bruce / Campbell / Alexander / Moore have all let Scotland down badly. It will take decades for the LibDems to recover in the UK and it is a plausible scenario that they will never recover in Scotland.