FORMER LOTHIANS MSP SELECTED AS SNP DUNFERMLINE CANDIDATE
The SNP Dunfermline Constituency Association has tonight selected Shirley-Anne Somerville as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming by-election on Thursday 24th of October.
Ms Somerville, 39, was selected from a shortleet of two, the other potential candidate was Fife councillor Karen Marjoram.
Ms Somerville, who was an SNP MSP for Lothians between 2007-2011, was brought up and schooled in Kirkcaldy, and lives with her husband and young family in North Queensferry, Fife. She contested the Edinburgh Northern and Leith Constituency in 2011 but lost by 595 votes to Malcolm Chisholm MSP. She campaigned for Babies on Buses which resulted in Lothian Buses redesigning their vehicles. Recently Shirley-Anne has worked as Director for Communities at Yes Scotland.
Speaking after the selection meeting in Dunfermline, Ms Somerville said:-“I am honoured to be chosen as the SNP candidate for Dunfermline, and if elected pledge to be a strong local voice in the Scottish Parliament.
“Should I become be the new MSP for Dunfermline, I will vote to protect the people’s policies – the Council Tax freeze, free personal care for older citizens, no tuition fees for young Scots, free bus travel for the over-60s, and no bridge tolls across the Forth.
“Labour, Tory and Lib Dems all voted against the Budget which delivers these vital services that people in Dunfermline need and value – therefore, only a vote for the SNP in the by-election guarantees the people’s policies.
“The weekend Panelbase poll in the Sunday Times – which showed there is all to play for in the independence referendum – also put SNP support at the same exceptionally high level of 45 per cent as in our 2011 election landslide – and Labour at the same low level they slumped to. I plan to speak to as many people in Dunfermline as possible over the next five weeks, and the SNP will be working extremely hard to win.”
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