LONG READ: Nairn MP hopefuls share their visions for the future
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Politics in the north will see a major shift next year after a review of constituency boundaries across the country.
The next general election – which is due to happen by January 2025 – will see Nairnshire become part of the new Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.
In recent months parties have announced their candidates for the Westminster seat – with two confirmed candidates and one select candidate, we asked them their plans and views.
Graham Leadbitter (SNP)
Elgin City South Councillor for more than 15 years and former Moray Council leader.
Q: What are the key issues you will be focussing on if you are elected?
A: "One of the main issues for me is tackling the cost of living crisis and make sure that Scottish Government and therefore Highland Council and Moray Council have enough funding and how much the Treasury is willing to release for Scotland.
"Rural connectivity and challenges with recruitment for local employers are also a major issue.
"As an MP candidate I'll campaign for independence and for Scotland to rejoin the EU. A lot comes down to te UK government's austerity – it's not how we want Scotland to be or public services to be supported. If Scotland is independent, we can take different paths and do things differently. "
Q: How will you address the challenges of the new constituency, working across two local authorities?
A: "There is a wide variety of different communities across the constituency, from the coastal communities in Moray and Nairn right through to the Highland communities in Strathspey and the Cairngorms – each of these communities have particular issues and challenges but there are commonalities.
"It's unusual for people in the Highlands and Moray to be represented by the same representatives – but it has happened before. It's the case to know who the right people are to contact and make sure you represent their interests. I hope I can bring that knowledge from my years of experience as a councillor and council leader and the willingness to make the extra effort to understand issues affecting communities in Nairnshire and Strathspey.
Q: A96 dualling – what are your plans?
A: "I categorically think that A9 and A96 should be dualled and I have campaigned for this as a councillors for a long time both as a council leader and as a councillor. Both of them are important to all parts of the constituency.
"These are critical routes for us and routes that require significant investment. On our side we'll have to put the fight to Westminster to get the funding to make sure these projects go ahead. "
Q: What are your plans to support businesses in Nairnshire and the local economy?
"Nairn has many different industries that that support the local economy such as tourism as well as agriculture and the fortunes of businesses operating around Inverness Airport and the airport itself. One of the big boosts going forward as the investment that we can increase in is likely for Ardersier.
"There's a huge potential and to grow the local economy and then and the surrounding area. We need to take advantage of those opportunities and in high skilled, well-paid employment that our Communities want to see.
"Another thing I want to bring to the fore in Westminster is the that the Highlands and Moray have different immigration needs than the rest of the UK – which currently has very punitive policies. We need to ensure we get the expertise and skills needed in our area."
Kathleen Robertson (Scottish Conservatives)
Moray Council leader since 2022.
Q: What are the key issues you will be focussing on if you are elected?
"I think the main issues that encompass all three areas are obviosuly the A9 and the A96. We have been promised a bypass in Nairn for a long time and there just doesn't seem to be any progress on that so although I am aware this is a devolved matter, I think it's equally important as MP to lobby and support colleagues in making sure that these things are progressed.
"As a working mother, another key issue for me is access to childcare – to make sure that you we have it, the wrap around enable families to get back to work from what was further employment both in the child care sector and obviously getting people back into work. It's a huge driver for our economy, and that's very important.
"We also have a lot of oil and gas workers across the North of Scotland and again indeed in the Nairnshire area. It's important that these jobs are transitioned at an appropriate rate, trying to achieve the net zero goal as rapidly as we possibly can but it's important that our workforce is transitioned effectively, as well as our domestic use of oil and gas.
"Another key aspect is to ensure that our healthcare and public services are being inspected properly to make sure that they're fit for purpose.
"Finally, with this new constituency having the largest military food print in Scotland that we allow a strong representation for the armed forces and their families."
Q: How will you address the challenges of the new constituency, working across two local authorities?
"It's a big geographical area to cover. Working with two different local authorities will be challenging – however I have an in depth experience of local authority at Moray Council.
"I think it is key that your MP is somebody who is willing and able to communicate with any political party any political position whether it's another MP and MSP as well as councillors – it's down to communication and openness, collegiality and willingness to work together."
Q: What are your plans to support businesses in Nairnshire and the local economy?
A: "We've got a powerhouse with industries and businesses across Nairnshire and the rest of constituency. We've got some massive businesses alongside very small realities and micro businesses and many people working from home.
"It's absolutely key that we support them – I will listen to and constituents and do what I can to support them and making sure that their voices are heard.
" We also need to sell our area to attract skilled people and this means improving healthcare services, housing opportunities – couple that with the increase in income tax recently announced, and we're really in danger of having a problem with talent attraction."
Neil Alexander (Liberal Democrats – selection candidate)
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Moray.
Q: What are the key issues you will be focussing on if you are elected?
"The main concern for me is the Nairn Bypass and the dualling of the whole A96.
"For me that's that's going to be one of the number one priorities because it's the whole thing has been held up and you know people lose their lives on that road every single day. These problems have been there even before I was old enough to vote.
People are being taken for granted in Nairn and right along the Moray Firth and then you go further afield down towards the Aviemore way with the A9 project being held up.
"The issue is very much with local services – another main priority for me is local health care issues.
"The maternity services at Dr Gray are still not operating, which increase the back log rate at Raigmore Hospital which affects everybody living in this area.
"It's about looking away from that central perspective that the Scottish Government is pushing in healthcare and other services. Knowing where the money is spent and making sure that but challenges faced by people living in the Highlands and Moray are not overlooked."
Q: How will you address the challenges of the new constituency, working across two local authorities?
"It's a complicated new constituency and I think everybody's trying to get to terms with that.
"I have been a campaigner in different local issues. There are similarities in there are differences, for example with Highland Council and Moray Council operating in different ways.
"It's about having that real knowledge and community connection of going out speaking to people or speaking to locals on the issues they face, whether that is in Elgin, Nairn or Aviemore."
Q: What are your plans to support businesses in Nairnshire and the local economy?
We need to create a fair prosperous local economy and really focussing on local business with that regard.
It's about creating a fair system for investment for the future long term
As Lib Dems, we want to reform business rates to make them fairer for local businesses and develop a long-term industrial strategy with environmental and green tech in mind, and support innovations that are able to sustain growth that will last for generations to come.
Q: How do you see being the youngest candidate (at the age of 29)?
"We need more young people in politics. We have been taken for granted for way too long and we need to attract more young people into politics.
"To be the youngest candidate for me is a badge of honour – things need to be done differently."
