Thank you

I would like to thank all those who voted for me, for our Conservative council candidates and for the Scottish Conservatives on the regional vote at last Thursday’s elections.

I would also like to congratulate Fergus Ewing on his victory, and thank my fellow candidates for contesting the election in an honourable manner.

However, the immediate legacy of Thursday’s elections is one of some confusion and controversy. The number of people whose ballots, and therefore their voice, was rejected – some 1,249 in Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber alone – is quite staggering. There are also a significant number of people who have contacted our office who did not receive their postal ballots in time for them to vote, thus they were also disenfranchised.

It is crucial that the process which elects our political leaders is democratic, transparent and has the trust of the people. It could be argued that the system that was used on Thursday was none of the above. In my opinion, it was less transparent that the old system and there were a number of occasions on which the performance of the equipment used must be questioned. I was also concerned to see corporate logos playing such a prominent role in the process which determines who runs Scotland.

It looks as though there will be an investigation into the debacle on Thursday night/Friday morning, but there should also be questions asked over whether the use of electronic equipment and private contractors in the crucial verifying and counting process is really acceptable. We simply cannot take risks with democracy.

Don’t let the LibDems sell out the United Kingdom

One of the recurring concerns being raised on the door across Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber is over the future of the Union.

With very few exceptions, local people want Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom because they recognise the huge benefits and opportunities it brings our country, and the Highlands in particular.

While the Scottish Conservatives have made it clear that we will not do a deal with any of the other parties, it’s been widely reported in the press that the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are cosying up to each other ahead of possible coalition talks.

The LibDems are so desperate for power that they simply cannot be trusted to put the Union – and all the benefits this brings - before their ministerial mondeos. It’s an utter betrayal of those who believe in Scotland’s continuing role in the United Kingdom.

Those of us who support the Union must stand up and be counted on Thursday. Voters in Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber must be made aware that the Liberal Democrats will sell out the Union if it means they can keep their ministerial positions under any separatist SNP government.

SNP tax plans will hurt hard-working local families

The SNP claim that LIT can be 3p in the pound flies in the face of independent assessments about the rate at which it needs to be set in order to raise the same amount of local revenue as the Council Tax.

The SNP refuse to say how it will fill the black hole in their plans, although their campaign guru Angus Robertson has said they will have to increase other taxes. The Nationalists and the Lib-Dems both owe it to voters in Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber to come clean, tell the truth, and try and show that their sums add up without them having to tax Scotland even more. However, they won't because they can't.

A local income tax is a tax on hard working families. It is a tax on pensions and a tax on the profits of most small businesses across this area. The Scottish Conservative plan to cut in half the council tax bill for every pensioner household aged 65 and over is fully costed and it doesn’t punish families.

May 3rd - Decision Time

May 3rd is a watershed for Scotland and decision time for Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber.

There are 3 options. 4 more years of the same under a LibDem/Labour Scottish Executive which has wasted their last 8 years of power, 4 years of chaos under an SNP administration intent on picking every fight possible with our neighbours, or a Scottish Conservative Government that is focusing on the real issues that matter.

We’re the only party talking about the real issues and not getting engaged in this unseemly squabbling over who’ll jump into the Scottish Executive bed with who after the elections.

We’re committed to cutting in half Council Tax bills for over 65s, investing in the Highland’s roads - dualling the A9 and upgrading the A96 and A82, taking real action against local vandalism and anti-social behaviour and to Scotland remaining an integral part of a strong United Kingdom.

I’m confidant that, on May 3rd, people will vote for Scotland to be run better and the real issues addressed and that will be voting for the Scottish Conservatives.