Alba Party announces Steve Chisholm as Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross candidate
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Alba Party has officially entered the race for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross announcing that former SNP member Steve Chisholm will be the party’s candidate.
The party highlighted how Mr Chisholm’s decades in the energy industry can help drive the transition to a Green economy, saying it is an “absurdity that Scotland is an energy rich nation but we have people across the Highlands living in fuel poverty.”
Alex Salmond welcomed the news saying: “It emphasises Alba’s credentials as a truly National Party representing all parts and all communities in Scotland” adding Mr Chisholm can help lead the “economic and industrial revival in the Highlands.”
Previously, he ran against Lucy Beattie to represent the SNP in a bid to unseat Liberal Democrat stalwart Jamie Stone. They are up against the Greens’ Anne Thomas, Labour’s Eva Kestner and Sandra Skinner for Reform UK.
That means voters will have a pick of three candidates who want Scotland to leave the UK on election day – potentially but not definitely dividing the pro-independence vote, something unlikely to happen with unionist voters of Mr Stone.
Mr Chisholm announced his departure from the Scottish National Party to join the Alba Party earlier this year citing the former's failure to deliver on independence as well as for the Highland economy.
He said: "A credible transition to a new green economy is possible, and essential, but it must not leave workers and communities behind.
“Alba is the only party standing up for our oil and gas industry and its workers, recognising the importance of a gradual transition to renewable sources of energy.
“Now more than ever we need an MP that can deliver for the Highlands and in doing so deliver for Scotland.
“Alba’s plan for the Highlands, that I will set out over the course of the election campaign, would see the Highlands capitalise on an economic opportunity unseen since the early days of oil and gas 50 years ago.
“If carefully managed we could change the economic landscape of the Highlands for future generations, and reverse the decades long trend of depopulation and economic stagnation.
“I have a track record of delivering for the Highlands in the Energy Sector and I now want to use that experience to ensure politics better delivers for our communities.”
Former First Minister Alex Salmond said: “We are delighted to have someone of Steve’s calibre and business experience carrying the Alba Party standard in the Highlands at the General Election.
“It emphasises Alba’s credentials as a truly National Party representing all parts and all communities in Scotland.
“Steve’s extensive experience and dedication to the region's development positions him as a valuable asset in shaping the driving forward of an economic and industrial revival in the Highlands of Scotland.”
