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Uphill battle for Tory candidate to over-turn 28 per cent SNP majority in Inverness and Nairn seat


By Scott Maclennan

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Edward Mountain.
Edward Mountain.

Regional MSP Edward Mountain has been selected to run for Inverness and Nairn seat at the 2021 Holyrood election.

He is set to face-off against cabinet secretary for rural economy Fergus Ewing who comfortably won the seat in 2016.

The local Scottish Conservative party members selected Mr Mountain during a meeting in Inverness and it will be his second bid to become a constituency MSP.

At that attempt, he won 20 per cent of the vote, raising the Tory share by more than eight per cent but still lagged well behind Mr Ewing who won with 48 per cent.

Mr Mountain has made a name for himself through involvement in a number of high-profile issues related to NHS Highland from bullying to parking at Raigmore hospital.

He launched the campaign to highlight how many people were abusing the free parking at the hospital as a cheap park and ride to the city centre.

Earlier this year the health board confirmed that work started on erecting barriers to keep parking free for patients and hospital visitors.

He was also the first MSP to call for an inquiry into bullying at NHS Highland, the government eventually ordered a review by John Sturrock QC.

The MSP has continued to press the Scottish Government for more investment in Highland schools and over the long-delayed replacement of Inverness Prison.

In parliament, Mr Mountain convenes the Scottish Parliament’s rural economy and connectivity committee.

He said: “I am delighted and humbled to have been selected as the Scottish Conservative candidate for Inverness and Nairn for the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.

“This gives me a further opportunity to fight for the people of Inverness, Nairn and the Highlands to ensure this area sees improvements to education, health care provision and infrastructure.

“I am looking forward to the Scottish Parliament returning from recess in the next few weeks where I will continue to make sure the Highland voice is heard in Holyrood.”


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