Jamie Stone 'really surprised' by Karl Rosie's resignation from SNP
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Far north MP Jamie Stone has expressed surprise at the decision by his former election rival Karl Rosie to quit the SNP.
Councillor Rosie, who represents the Thurso and Northwest Caithness ward on Highland Council, announced on Wednesday that he was resigning from his party with immediate effect.
He said he was "deeply troubled" by SNP policies which "often seem disproportionately focused on the central belt". He also said he felt disillusioned with the party's "incoherent independence strategy".
When Mr Stone retained the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency for the Liberal Democrats in December 2019 he was pushed close by Councillor Rosie as the SNP candidate.
Mr Stone ended up with 11,705 votes, with Councillor Rosie second on 11,501 – a majority of just 204 for the sitting MP.
"I was really surprised to hear the news. I didn't see it coming," Mr Stone said.
"In 2019 Karl Rosie was my SNP opponent and, in the way that candidates do, I got to know him rather well and had a lot of respect for him. In fact, I liked him.
"Politics is a very unpredictable business and I'd just like to say I wish him well for the future."
Councillor Rosie has said he will continue in his role as an elected member of Highland Council and "it is imperative to put people before party”.
He announced his resignation as a member of the SNP in a letter to council leader Raymond Bremner, a fellow Caithness councillor.
