BANFFSHIRE VOTERS WILL be asked to return the resident SNP MSP to Holyrood when they vote at the Scottish Elections in May.
The SNP Banffshire & Buchan Coast constituency party members have selected Stewart Stevenson to fight the seat he first won in 2001 – when the constituency followed very different boundaries.
Mr Stevenson has represented the region – which includes part of east Moray including Buckie and Cullen – since claiming over 67% of the vote at the 2011 election.
Commenting on his re-selection as a candidate in May, Mr Stevenson said: “It has been an enormous privilege to serve the people of the Banffshire & Buchan Coast Scottish Parliament Constituency, and I am very grateful to the local party members for their endorsement.
“The SNP now has over 1400 members in the constituency and each and every one of them were given the opportunity to be involved in the process.
“The SNP’s structures are based on one-member, one-vote and, unlike some other political parties for whom democracy seems to be causing some problems, SNP members have the opportunity to vote for candidates, national officials, elect the committee that sets conference agendas, shape policy and speak on issues at our conferences.
“I believe that involvement is key to the SNP’s success and I am keen to develop further how we engage with our members.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with as many people as possible between now and the election and I know that the SNP’s team of activists locally are keen to get started.
“In the meantime, it’s business as usual for me with Parliament resuming this week and a round of surgeries later in September.”