The race to replace Ruth Davidson in the capital is hotting up as Joanna Cherry QC MP for Edinburgh South West has announced that she will be seeking the SNP candidacy for Edinburgh Central.

She will have competition in the form of former Moray MP Angus Robertson who has also announced that he will try to win SNP selection. Robertson was previously the Depute Leader of the party, the SNP’s Westminster leader and before that worked for the BBC World Service.

Ms Cherry tweeted yesterday “After consulting with Edinburgh Central SNP and Edinburgh South West activists I’ve decided to accede to their request to seek the SNP candidacy for the Edinburgh Central constituency in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. I will do so when nominations open in April.”

Writing in his regular Edinburgh Evening News column this week Angus Robertson announced his candidacy saying that Edinburgh needs a new balance for its residents between over-tourism and climate crisis. In a very thinly veiled criticism of the current MSP he said that Edinburgh Central deserves a full-time MSP who will put their constituents’ interests first.

Ruth Davidson announcing her retiral as party leader on 29 August 2019 Edinburgh PHOTO ©2019 The Edinburgh Reporter

Ruth Davidson announced some time ago that she will not seek reelection in Edinburgh Central which she gained at the last Scottish Parliamentary election with just over 600 votes.

Joanna Cherry QC MP PHOTO ©2020 The Edinburgh Reporter
Website | + posts

Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.