ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Aberdeen South

Two days ago I noted that family reasons had forced Mark Jones to step down as our candidate in Aberdeen South. The Scottish Party has moved quickly to replace him.

I've just received this press release:

Former Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and Scottish Financial Enterprise chief executive, Amanda Harvie, has been selected to stand as the Conservative Party’s new Westminster candidate for Aberdeen South.

Amanda Harvie says:

"I am honoured to have this opportunity to champion the interests of the people and businesses of Aberdeen again. As I have consistently said, Aberdeen is a powerhouse of the Scottish and UK economies thanks to the underpinning strength of our oil and gas industry. However both the industry’s future and Aberdeen’s opportunity to continue to develop its position as an international energy hub can only be secured if the British economy is strong and there is a competitive and stable tax environment. Labour's recession and mountain of debt has weakened our economy. Labour has an appalling track record of tinkering with corporation tax for the oil and gas industry and levying windfall taxes when the oil price is high. That is not the way to encourage business confidence and maximise investment, particularly when companies are finding it increasingly difficult to turn new UK offshore oil and gas reserves into economic production. The voters have a clear choice: either five more years of Labour tax, waste and debt or a Conservative government under David Cameron offering the policies and leadership that will strengthen the economy and help make Aberdeen and Britain competitive for the long-term. That is why I have joined the Conservative Party and am standing in this British General election with the aim of representing Aberdeen South at Westminster.”

Continue reading "Amanda Harvie chosen to replace Mark Jones as Aberdeen South PPC" »

The Press and Journal has the story:

"The Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South has pulled out of the race to win the seat at the general election. A spokesman for the Tories confirmed last night that Mark Jones had stepped down because of family health reasons. The news was greeted with “shock” by members of the 49-year-old’s campaign team, who have been fighting to seize the seat from Labour’s Anne Begg at the election, expected on May 6. It is understood Mr Jones’s 78-year-old mother had been suffering from ill health for more than a year at the family’s home in Orkney."

More here.

I wish Mark the best for the future at what must be a very difficult time.

Tim Montgomerie