Lib Dem and Scottish Labour candidates bidding to unseat Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey SNP MP
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Two party candidates have so far been declared to battle the SNP's Drew Hendry for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey seat at Westminster.
Inverness student Lewis Whyte is the Labour Party’s youngest Highland General Election candidate in 30 years.
The 22-year-old will press for a People’s Vote on Brexit as a key element of his campaign.
Mr Whyte, who lives in central Inverness, is studying sociology and politics at the University of the Highlands and Islands through Inverness College.
He worked in both the IT and tourist ndustry before pursuing a degree while remaining a martial arts teacher for the past six years.
His girlfriend Abi is a student mental health nurse.
“It’s time to give younger people a bigger voice in our area” said Mr Whyte. “Younger people have the most to lose from a Tory Brexit, which would be devastating for the Highlands. After three years of chaos it’s time to take this issue back to the people - we urgently need a second referendum.”
He said health, education, jobs, and constitutional reform are also key issues for him as well as reinvestment in public services.
Mr Whyte commented: “The state of rail in the Highlands, through Abellio’s incompetence, underlines the need for the railways to be taken into public ownership so their priority is to work for the people.”
He continued: ”The hospitality and tourism industries are booming in this constituency, which is good to see, but many young people in this industry are being exploited by low wages and zero hours contracts.
“Highland Council needs to be given the funding and freedom to build more affordable homes for its huge waiting list.
“These are just a taster of the issues I’ll be backing. I want to see a Labour Government committed to delivering for the many, not the few.”
Meanwhile Denis Rixson – a Highland councillor since April, last year successful taking the seat from the SNP at a by-election – will stand for the Liberal Democrats.
He said: "I have lived in the Highlands for over 40 years and was a school-teacher, first at primary and then at secondary school level."
Mr Rixson, who has a passion for Highland history and have written several books on the subject, said he will bring a common sense approach to politics.
He said: "I am an unreconstructed Unionist. I really do believe we are better off together – economically, socially and politically.
"Climate change is the number one topic of the 21st Century. Highland Council recently declared a climate emergency and has since passed a motion to establish Highland as a carbon sink.
"What can we do? Well we can mitigate on the one hand and compensate on the other.
"We must cut our emissions and one of the biggest ways we can help do this is by establishing a much more comprehensive system of public transport. This, and more 'active travel' by walking and cycling will help reduce our footprint.
"And to compensate the simplest and most effective thing we can do is encourage tree-planting.
"Through 250 years of sheep, deer and muirburn we have made a desolation of much of the Highlands. There is a natural balance we can help restore.
And I haven't even mentioned broadband, STEM provision, penal reform, affordable housing, land reform."
Mr Hendry has already said he looks forward to earning the trust of voters once again at the ballot box.
He said: "I look forward to campaigning to stop this harmful Brexit and to give people the choice of a future that better reflects their values and the needs of their families."
