News / SNP selects Skene to fight Holyrood election
LOCAL SNP activist Danus Skene has been selected as the party’s Shetland prospective parliamentary candidate for the Scottish Parliament election, to be held in May next year.
The 71-year old said that he was “both humbled and flattered” to have received a clear mandate following an internal selection process.
In May this year Skene stood as the SNP’s candidate for the northern isles seat in the UK parliament and came close to beating Alistair Carmichael, the LibDem MP for the isles since 2001.
“With a candidate in place, the SNP in Shetland can now embark on an organised campaign leading up to next May,” he said.
He added that he would seek to ensure that Shetland was represented by an MSP who supports and influences an SNP Scottish Government committed to delivering fairness and efficiency.
“These commitments are acutely relevant to Shetland. Islanders demand fair and dignified treatment for themselves and others, and we will provide leadership in resisting the UK Government’s “austerity” agenda in which the needy and the lower paid are made to pay for the follies of the bankers and the wealthy.
“I will also take the lead in demanding fair treatment for Shetland as a Scottish island community with very particular needs in respect of transport, service provision and fair pricing.
“I also firmly believe that Shetland would benefit from substantially greater control over its own management, and look forward to working with an SNP Scottish Government committed to enhancing island empowerment and autonomy,” he said.
Highlands and islands list MSP Mike Mackenzie who was defeated in the internal selection process said: “As an islander myself, I fully understand why Shetland members chose a candidate who lives on Shetland and wish Danus every success with the forthcoming campaign.”
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