Highland Council leader throws hat in ring for Westminster seat

Highland Council leader Drew Hendry has been revealed as a contender to face MP Danny Alexander in a battle for his Westminister seat.

The SNP councillor, who has represented the Aird and Loch Ness ward since 2007, launched his campaign for the UK parliament seat yesterday.

Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans and Nairn councillor Liz McDonald have also thrown their hats into the ring for the SNP candidacy.

Voters will go to the polls on 7th May to elect an MP for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey seat. The three councillors confirmed yesterday that they had accepted a nomination and would be putting themselves forward for selection for the SNP.

"Clearly the reason so many people have asked me to do this is because they believe I can get results — and they have not had results in the past," said Councillor Hendry.

"It’s my duty to use my experience to try to get the best for people."

The father-of-four, who has been leading the SNP Group on Highland Council since 2011 and the council itself since 2012 — will have to get through the hustings selection process and then win the election in a one-member, one-vote system.

Ultimately it will be up to the SNP to decide on a suitable candidate but the council leader believes that he is the right person for the role.

"As leader of the council I understand the challenges facing the constituents of the region," he said. "As a member of a powerful group of SNP MPs, dedicated to representing Scotland’s best interests in Westminster, I can fight hard for the benefit of the Highlands.

I will seek to win my colleagues’ votes to be their candidate, so that together we can pursue this goal."

Mr Alexander won the seat at the last election with an 8765 majority, but his popularity has waned since the Liberal Democrats joined the Conservatives in government. There had been rumours that former Scotland first minister Alex Salmond would contest Mr Alexander’s seat.

The MP said Mr Salmond’s decision to "run away" from the fight in Inverness left the SNP with the task of choosing second best.

"Whoever carries the nationalist banner, the people of the Highlands face a clear choice between Highland Lib Dems who fight and win for our area, Ed Miliband’s Labour Party, who would wreck the economic recovery, and nationalists whose only priority is another referendum," he said.

Councillor Gowans, who lives in Westhill, said Mr Alexander was undoubtedly facing a tough battle to hold on to his seat.

He signed up to the SNP at the age of 16 and has represented his ward since 2012. He said there was an "unquestionable appetite for change".

"I think the time is right for me to go forward with this," he said. "We have got some very good candidates here and whoever gets elected I will stand behind them. But for my part I have got a lot of experience.

"I’ve been a long time member of the party through thick and thin. I have an unswerving commitment to independence.

"Being a councillor has let me see that there is so much more that we can do if we have this seat and I understand the rural issues as well as the urban."

Prominent Yes campaigner Cou-ncillor McDonald, who twice held the Nairn provost role and is the current area leader for Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey, has been a councillor since 1999.

"I have never thrown my hat in the ring for anything like this before but I just know we need more women in politics," she said. "I feel we need a strong voice in Westminster and I feel I can do that.

"I’m feeling ready for it. I feel we need to get the best outcome for Scotland."

Former Culloden Academy pupil Ron MacWilliam (39), of Dulnain Bridge, has also accepted a nomination.

The former parliametary researcher said: "The constituency needs a local candidate who knows the area intimately."

Other parties have already named their candidates to challenge Mr Alex-ander.

Highland businessman Mike Robb has been selected as the Scottish Labour candidate, while Moray farmer and businessman Edward Mountain has been chosen as the Conservative candidate.

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