Kate Forbes launches re-election campaign for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat
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Kate Forbes has launched her campaign for re-election as MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
She addressed more than 100 local members and supporters at a virtual launch event last night.
The 30 year-old said that the Holyrood election provides a real choice for those in the constituency about the type of society they want to rebuild following the challenge and tragedy of the pandemic.
Miss Forbes told the Strathy prior to the launch of her campaign for the local seat: “This last year has been enormously challenging for local communities in the Highlands and Islands.
"Some of us have tragically lost loved ones, local businesses have faced a hugely tough time and everyone has had to make big sacrifices.
"But working together and looking out for one another, as Highland communities always do, we’ve got through it and the vaccine rollout gives us all a reason for hope.
“As we emerge on the other side of this dark time, there are choices for us - choices about the type of society we want to rebuild together and who we trust to represent us on the things that matter of us and our families.
And that’s why this election is so important - it’s not about slogans or banners, it’s about you and your family.”
Miss Forbes is from Dingwall, although spent part of her upbringing in Glasgow and India.
Until she was elected as MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in 2016, she was employed as an accountant in the banking industry.
Prior to that, she studied History at the universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh with a focus on human migration.
Miss Forbes said she will be highlighting 'the long list of things' that have been delivered working together with local communities during her time at Holyrood.
She commented: “Working together with local communities, we’ve been able to deliver better quality health services at a local level with new hospitals in Broadford and Aviemore and another one on the way at the Belford.
"We’ve supported hundreds of affordable homes across the constituency; we’ve secured better local transport services for villages like Culbokie; we’ve won millions of pounds in investment in our tourism economy including better infrastructure to manage it sustainably.
“In this campaign, I want to speak directly to people who may not traditionally support the SNP. I think when they look at my track record as an MSP for five years, and how I go about working and listening to local communities, I hope they will see someone who they can relate to and trust to deliver on their priorities at a local level.”
