Aviemore woman Isla McCay joins Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch race for Labour while the SNP chose Eilidh Munro to succeed Kate Forbes
SNP members have chosen Eilidh Munro as Kate Forbes’ potential successor as the MSP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch in for next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
Meanwhile Scottish Labour have chosen Isla McCay from Aviemore in what looks to be one of the most competitive races for years since Scotland’s Deputy First Minister said she would stand down in 2026.
Both women touted their respective party’s records in government as delivering for the Highlands at a time of nearly unprecedented dissatisfaction and mistrust of government.
Already in the race are Andrew Baxter for the Liberal Democrats and Helen Crawford for the Conservatives.
An internal SNP selection contest that concluded on Friday – in time for the party’s annual conference which has just opened in Aberdeen – leaving the Gaelic speaker and musician with 79 per cent of the vote with the contest concluding.
Ms Munro said: “I am so grateful to local party members for putting their faith in me, and I’m absolutely over the moon to have been selected as candidate. It is a real honour to be in the running to become the next MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
“I’m looking forward to launching the campaign in the weeks ahead, highlighting both the significant achievements of the SNP government and the many improvements we still need to make across the Highlands, from infrastructure and housing solutions to strengthening our health and social care services.”
Running against her will be the also just announced Aviemore resident Isla McCay as Scottish Labour’s candidate for the seat in the 2026 Holyrood elections.
Ms McCay says younger generations have been let down by the SNP and is standing for Scottish Labour in Skye Lochaber and Badenoch to campaign for a change of government at Holyrood.
“Next year will see young people voting for the first time who have grown up entirely under the SNP government,” she said. “Together with the rest of the electorate, they have the chance to choose a new direction for our communities and for Scotland’s future by voting for Scottish Labour.
“Falling educational standards, fewer opportunities for school leavers, housing shortages, and some of the longest waiting times for mental health diagnosis and treatment in the country, are all making it harder for children and young people to fulfil their potential.
“This affects not only younger generations but also impacts our wider communities today and into the future. Many are left with no choice but to leave the area for opportunities elsewhere, with a knock-on effect on the workforces of local businesses and essential public services.
Ms McCay says it is clear the difference a Labour led Government can make, “Since taking power in 2024 the UK Labour government has delivered a pay rise for 200,000 of the lowest paid Scottish workers, strengthened employment rights, seen the fastest growing economy in the G7 with five interest rate cuts in a year as the economy recovers, and provided the largest budget settlement for Scotland in the history of devolution.
“Despite this, Scots continue to see our public services decline under an SNP government that is tired and out of ideas to fix the mess they have made since 2007, while England is benefiting from improved NHS waiting times and expanded provision of childcare”.