Susan Leslie selected for Dunfermline by-election

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 18th September 2013 - 2:00 pm

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have today announced that Fifer Susan Leslie has been selected as their candidate for the Dunfermline parliamentary by-election.

The selection was formally announced by Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP in his speech to Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow.

Susan Leslie is a university lecturer who was elected as a councillor in 2007.

Speaking after the announcement, Councillor Susan Leslie said:

Willie Rennie and Jim Tolson got things done for local people and stood up for the area. That’s what Dunfermline will get if they elect me as the new MSP for the area.

We need action on the Victoria and Queen Margaret Hospitals, action to create more jobs, improved childcare and a reversal of the cuts to the college.

The SNP have let the area down. It’s time to return to the kind of action and service provided by Jim and Willie.

I will work with Willie in Parliament to make sure Dunfermline and west Fife gets the service it deserves.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said:

Susan’s record and commitment to Fife is impressive. We’re going to work hard for every vote and remind people how powerful a force Lib Dems are for their community.

I’ve campaigned for Susan in her Council ward and I know how hard she works and how well she is liked. She will be a fantastic candidate.

The by-election, to be held on 24 October, was caused by the resignation of Bill Walker who bowed to public pressure 16 days after his conviction for 23 violent offences against 4 women.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social

5 Comments

Keith Legg 18th Sep '13 - 4:12pm

Excellent news – Susan will be a brilliant candidate and MSP. Might even make a trip down the M90 to help!

Just as a side point – that means that the Lib Dems, Labour and the SNP have all selected women for this by-election.
ollyt 18th Sep '13 - 5:23pm

“Susan will be a brilliant candidate and MSP”

Are you seriously suggesting that Lib Dems are going to win this seat? If so I’d be very interested to hear your reasoning.
Ian Sanderson (RM3) 19th Sep '13 - 3:52pm

Ollyt
Well there was a Westminster by-election for Dunfermline and West Fife in 2006. LibDems started a long way behind then…
ollyt 19th Sep '13 - 6:31pm

@ Ian Sanderson
The Lib Dems weren’t propping up a Tory government in westminster in 2006! That has gone down like the proverbial cold cup of sick in most of Scotland. I think the Lib Dems will do well to get to double figures in terms of their vote share
Paul K 21st Sep '13 - 9:55am

Susan seems to be a great candidate – she must be good if she managed to hold her council seat last year –
and in Scottish politics you can get elected with barely a quarter of the vote under the first-past-the-nonexistent-post system. Also a lot of people who voted SNP last time will be disillusioned after what has happened locally and there is no enthusiasm for lacklustre Labour or the Tories so there should be all to play for.