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29 October 07
Independent Councillors Group Gain As Lib Dem Richard Durham Resigns
From Lib Dems
 Councillor Richard Durham, Tain and Easter Ross, advised The Highland
Council at its meeting on Thursday 25 October that he had resigned as a
member of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council and was becoming an
Independent.
This means that the make up of the Council now is: -
Independents, 35
Liberal Democrats 21
Scottish National Party 17
Labour 7
The Administration of the Council comprises members of the Independent
Group and the SNP.
Councillor Durham continues his role as Convener of the Highland and
Islands Fire Board but his switch of Group means he is no longer a
member of the Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee (TECs),
nor the Planning Environment and Development Committee (PED).
His membership on the TEC Services Committee is taken by Councillor
David Henderson, Inverness Ness-side, and his position on the PED
Committee is taken by Councillor Thomas Prag, Inverness South. Both of
these councillors are Liberal Democrat members.
More on
Scottish Parliament Candidates In Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross
Results Now in
Scottish Parliament Nominations for Highland
More On
Caithness Candidates For Highland Council
Results Now In
All Highland Council Wards Candidates
2007 Election Results At Highland Council
Numbers of
Women Elected Drops
COSLA Connections - Election Special
Results and commentary on the Scottish 2007 local elections -
out shortly
30 April 07
Replacement Postal Votes
Postal voters, who have not yet received their ballot papers or have lost
their papers, are being advised they can apply for a replacement postal
vote up until 5 pm on Thursday - the day of the election. Voters seeking a
replacement postal vote require to provide proof of identification when
visiting one of the following Council offices: -
Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness
Market Square, Wick;
The Meadows, Dornoch;
Council Offices, Dingwall
Tigh na Sgire, Portree
Lochaber House, Fort William
The most secure examples of identification are full, valid current
passport and photocard driving licence. If the voter does not have
photographic identification, then a utility bill and one other item of
identification, such as a cheque book/card or council tax payment book,
can be used as proof of identification.
Voters have until 5 pm on Thursday to apply for a replacement postal vote
and must return the vote by the close of voting at 10 pm on Thursday.
An election helpline has been set up to help those people who require a
replacement postal vote. The number is 0845 603 5528.
A total of 17,635 people in the Highlands have applied to vote by post.
The Returning Officer for the three Highland Scottish Parliamentary
constituencies is one of a number of Returning Officers across Scotland,
who has experienced problems with the printing and distribution of postal
votes.
A final issue of 925 votes was due to arrive at homes in Highland today
(Monday).
Returning Officer Arthur McCourt said: "We need to ensure that everyone
who has registered for a postal vote is able to do so. Replacement ballot
papers will be available up until 5 pm on polling day and can be returned
to polling stations by close of poll at 10 pm." Scottish Parliament
Election
SCHEME OF POLLING PLACES
Date of Election: Thursday 3 May 2007
Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll
Highlands and Islands Region
The Highland Council Election
Date of Election: Thursday 3 May 2007 - Notice of Poll
Scottish Parliament Elections - Thursday 3rd May 2007
�
sample ballot paper �
Highland Council Elections - Thursday 3rd May 2007
�
sample ballot paper �
Frequently asked questions about the May elections
Information on the Voting Systems
29 April 07
Researcher To Gauge "quality of life" In
Rural Scotland
 People
living in rural areas of Scotland have been urged to take part in a
quality of life survey being carried out on Election Day. Dr Holger
Bergmann, a researcher at the University of Aberdeen's Business School, is
asking residents in Caithness, Sutherland, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen to
take a few minutes to give their views on rural life after leaving their
polling station on May 3. Questions will touch on a number of topics such
as the impact of local farming on the environment, community spirit in
countryside areas, and the role of farming and forestry in the region.
"The survey is aimed at getting a broad and thorough understanding of the
general quality of life perceptions among residents in Scottish
communities," said Dr Bergmann. "Anyone who takes the time to answer the
questions can be assured that their responses will remain confidential,
and will in no circumstances be made available to anyone else other than
the research team without explicit consent."
A Mock STV Election Electoral Reform Society Web Site
Single Transferable Vote (STV) - how it works for the council
elections for the first time. This animation is from Australia but it is
the same system being used for the council elections now.
29 April 07
Female Candidates For Scottish Parliament
From Fem Scot
The parties have put forward 95 female candidates in the constituency
contests, one third of all candidates, (the major parties in descending
order of women selected: Labour, the SNP, Liberal Democrats and
Conservatives). On the party regional lists 37% of the highest places
(first, second and third) have gone to women from the four major parties.
66 women are among the top three places for the plethora of independents
and smaller parties standing. Seats to watch: An all female race in
Edinburgh Central, though incumbent Sarah Boyack has a healthy majority.
29 April 07
Female Candidates In Scottish Local Government Elections
From Fem Scot
Almost 600 women will compete in Scotland's first council elections under
the Single Transferable Vote. Scotland's councils have just 22% women, but
it seems parties have resisted campaigners' calls to select more women
this time round. The proportion of women selected by Labour is
particularly disappointing, at 19%, though SNP women don't fare much
better at 22%. Conservatives (25%), Liberal Democrats (31%) and Greens
(37%) have all made progress though. It remains to be seen whether, once
selected, women fare any better under STV.
29 April 07
Women's Parliamentary Radio Launched
From Fem Scot
A web based radio station for women parliamentarians has been set up,
backed by a cross party group of MPs and women's sector NGOs. Founder and
Executive Producer, Boni Sones explained the reason for having an outlet
specifically for women parliamentarians: "By letting women MPs broadcast
directly to other women we believe that Women's Parliamentary Radio can
play an important role in social cohesion and engaging people in the
political process." Bringing together BBC content and newly-commissioned
items on one website, you can download or listen online at
www.wpradio.co.uk
7 April 07
Ex
Councillor Jim Fry From Thurso Aims For Scottish Parliament
 Jim
Fry who stood as a councillor for 28 years in Thurso is now aiming to be
list MSP and is standing under the banner of the Scottish Senior Citizens
Unity Party. Jim has been on many committees over the years and has
experience of representing people at all levels. A determined
campaigner on w die range of issues and he is determined to make a mark
for Highland at the Scottish Parliament if elected.
25 March 07
Scottish Socialist Party
selects Donnie Nicolson at top of Highlands and Islands List
 The
SSP has announced its list candidates for the Holyrood elections for the
Highlands and Islands region. Top of the list and aiming to be elected as
the party's first MSP from the region is Donnie Nicolson, a former pupil
of Lochaber High School. Inverness born Donnie, 27, said, "I�m delighted
to be leading the SSP�s campaign for Holyrood 2007. We have a number of
excellent policies for introducing a free integrated public transport
system, improving rural public services, and investing in social housing.
The Highlands and Islands will benefit from a young, radical voice at
Holyrood. The way to achieve this is to give your Regional List vote to
the SSP.�
25 March 07
CONSERVATIVE
PARLIAMENTARY HOPEFUL TOURS SCOTLAND'S BIGGEST NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING
PROJECT
 Donald
McDonald, the Scottish Conservative Party's prospective parliamentary
candidate in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, made a fact-finding
visit to Scotland's largest nuclear decommissioning project at Dounreay on
March 21. The former head teacher saw at first hand the progress being
made to demolish the fast reactor experiment. He also met management and
trade union officials. A key topic of discussion was the efforts being
made to develop alternative jobs to replace those that will be lost as
decommissioning progresses.
25 March 07
Rob Gibson Formally
Adopted As Candidate For SNP
 Rob
Gibson SNP MSP for Highlands and Islands since 2003 has been formally
adopted as the SNP candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter to fight
the election on 3rd May. At its meeting in Golspie on Friday night,
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross SNP Constituency Association
unanimously adopted Rob Gibson MSP as their candidate. Mr Gibson contested
the seat in 2003 coming third. He was then elected to Holyrood as an SNP
list member for Highlands and Islands.
23 March 07
Scottish Parliament and The Highland Council Elections Called
The Scottish Parliament and The Highland Council elections called
Thursday 22 March when public notices seeking nominations from candidates
were be published by the Regional Returning Officer. The deadline for
nominations is 4.00 pm on Wednesday 11 April.
Nominations can be handed in to the Elections Office at Council HQ,
Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, as well as Council offices at Barron House,
Nairn; Town House, Inverness; Council Offices, Dingwall; Tigh Na Sgire,
Portree; Lochaber House, Fort William, The Meadows, Dornoch and Market
Square, Wick.
The elections take place on Thursday 3 May, with voting taking place
between 7 am ~ 10 pm.
The Returning Officer for the Highland and Islands Region is Arthur
McCourt, Chief Executive, The Highland Council.
He is responsible for returning results in:
1. The three Highland constituencies:
~ Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (41,606 electors)
~ Ross, Skye and Inverness West (59,207)
~ Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber (71,102).
2. The 7 Additional Members to represent the Highlands and Islands Region
on the Scottish Parliament.
3. The 80 members to represent The Highland Council.
For the first time in a Highland Council election, electors will be voting
by Proportional Representation, using a single transferable vote. This has
resulted in the creation of 22 multi member wards ~ 14 four-member wards
and 8 three member wards, which will replace the existing 80 individual
wards.
Another first is that counting will be conducted electronically. All
counting will take place at Inverness Leisure Centre, Bught Park.
An election helpline has been set up by the Returning Officer to assist
the public and candidates with any queries. The number is 0845 603 5528.
Extensive information about the elections is posted on The Highland
Council's web site
www.highland.gov.uk A new feature will be a post code finder
which allows electors to identify their polling station by typing in their
postal code.
14 March 07
Thurso Pre-Election Hustings
A pre-election hustings meeting is to be held in Thurso High School
Hall on Friday 27th April. This is the opportunity for all
candidates for this constituency to present their case to the electorate.
For the voters of Caithness this is the opportunity to ask questions that
matter to you directly to those people who seek to represent you in
Edinburgh.
Start time will be published closer to the event.
13 March 07
Election Helpline to go live on 22 March
An Elections Helpline will be available to the public
from Thursday 22 March when nominations are invited for the Scottish
Parliament and The Highland Council elections. The number is 0845 603
5528. The helpline is being introduced to assist prospective candidates
and voters with any queries they may have in the run up to the elections
on Thursday 3 May.
Those interested in seeking election to the Scottish
Parliament or The Highland Council have until 4.00 pm on Wednesday 11
April to submit their nominations.
Extensive information about the elections is posted on The
Highland Council's web site www.highland.gov.uk A new feature will be a
post code finder which allows electors to identify their polling station
by typing in their postal code.
The Returning Officer for the Highland and Islands Region
is Arthur McCourt, Chief Executive, The Highland Council.
He is responsible for returning results in:
1. The three Highland constituencies:
~ Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (41,606 electors)
~ Ross, Skye and Inverness West (59,207)
~ Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber (71,102).
2. The 7 Additional Members to represent the
Highlands and Islands Region on the Scottish Parliament.
3. The 80 members to represent The Highland Council.
More than 16,000 electors have already applied to vote by
postal ballot. Those choosing to vote at one of the 336 polling stations
in Highland will be given two ballot papers.
There will be a single ballot paper for the Scottish
Parliament. The right hand column will feature the names of the candidates
and parties to elect a constituency MSP. This will be coloured violet. The
left hand column will feature the parties and independent list candidates
for the Additional Members on the Regional List. This will be brown.
Voters mark their choices for the people and parties they
want to vote for - one ~X~ for their constituency vote one ~X~ for their
Additional Member vote.
For the first time in a Highland Council election, electors
will be voting by Proportional Representation, using a single transferable
vote. This has resulted in the creation of 22 multi member wards - 14
four-member wards and 8 three member wards, which will replace the
existing 80 individual wards.
In the Council election, voters number the candidates in
order of preference: 1 for first choice, 2 for second choice, 3 for your
third and so on. The ballot paper is white.
Voting will take place between 7 am ~ 10 pm. Information
Officers will complement the Presiding Officer and Polling Clerk at 100 of
the busiest polling stations to assist voters.
Another first is that counting will be conducted
electronically. All counting will take place at Inverness Leisure Centre,
Bught Park. Ballot papers will be scanned into 13 scanners and processed
via 23 computers.
The count for the three Scottish parliamentary
constituencies will be completed overnight with the results announced in
the early hours of Friday 4 May.
The results of the Scottish Parliament Additional Members
and The Highland Council will be announced later on Friday.
8 March 07
'Wanted: Volunteers To
Monitor The 2007 Elections'
Unlock Democracy is a voluntary organisation dedicated to democratic
renewal and connecting people in politics:
www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk
The group are looking for volunteers to monitor the 2007 elections
in every constituency in Scotland. The group are still looking for
volunteers in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
The research project is designed to study and improve the quality
of democracy in Scotland. It is based on a successful project we completed
in the 2005 General Election. This is not a large commitment - it
should take no more than two or three hours, over the course of a month.
This research is supported by the Electoral Commission in Scotland. This
work is funded by the Scottish Electoral Commission:
www.electoralcommission.gov.uk
Previous work on elections includes General Election 2005: what the voters
saw, E. Robinson & Dr Justin Fisher, 2005. For more details see here:
http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/?p=181
Tasks involved:
collect election leaflets that come through your door
keep a record of telephone calls and doorstep visits from political
parties
complete a short survey about your experience of election day
It is not necessary to be knowledgeable about politics or the electoral
process.
Click Here For Contact
Details
20 February 07
Candidates In Caithness For Highland
Council Elections as at 20 Feb 2007
There will be three wards instead of ten for Caithness under the new
Electoral system in May 2007. Thurso, Wick and Caithness Landward
with Wick and Thurso having extended boundaries.
7 February 07
Highland Council To Debate
Elections 2007 Public Awareness on 8 February 2007
The Full Agenda for 8 February 2007
1 February 07
Solidarity Finalises
Line Up For Highland and Islands
Tommy Sheridan's new party Solidarity that has left behind
the SSP has selected its candidates for the May 2007 election for the
Scottish Parliament.
The
Solidarity party in the Highlands and Islands has selected its group of
candidates to stand on the party list at May's forthcoming Scottish
Parliamentary elections. Leading the way for the party at No1 on the list
is veteran campaigner Anne Macleod of Inverness. Frank Ward will
once again be standing and is joined by Steve Arnott. The list is
completed by Saltire Prize-winning author John Aberdein of Orkney,
community activist Norma Anderson of Elgin, teacher Liz Walker of Alness,
Fair Trade and environmental campaigner Deirdre Henderson of Kintyre and
Special Needs Education Trainer Shona Laughland of Bute.
25 January 07
Labour Field Candidates In all Seats In Caithness For May
2007 Elections
Scottish Labour looking to sweep the board by standing candidates in all
of the new Caithness council wards to add to their candidates for MSP and
a list candidate for the Scottish Parliament. Candidates with a wealth of experience in local government
will contest every seat in the new-look Highland Council. They will join Scottish Parliament prospective candidates
John McKendrick, who is bidding to become the next MSP for Caithness,
Sutherland and Easter Ross, and Bilbster's Simon Harrison, a candidate on
the Labour list for second votes, on the local campaign trail. In the
Council Wards the current councillor Roger Saxon will stand in Thurso,
with former councillors Jim Oag in Wick and Bill Mowat in Caithness
Landward throwing their hats back in the ring.....more
8 December 06
What's New In Elections
Highland council will post items with new information about the election
process and changes as they come to notice. In the run up to the
2007 elections, the organisations involved in administering the conduct of
the election will be posting a considerable amount material on their
websites.
Independents in talks on joint election campaign - Scotsman
15 October 06
Plea to Householders to Assist with Electoral Registration
Householders in the Highlands and Western Isles are being urged to
register everyone in their homes who qualifies in order to ensure that
they can vote in the Scottish Parliament and local council elections in
May of next year.
The annual electoral canvass is in full swing and all households in the
areas have received an initial postal canvass form and where this was not
returned, a reminder.
Over the next ten days or so, households that have failed to make a return
will be issued with a further reminder. Householders are asked to return
the form already in their possession without delay to save the expense to
the public purse of additional postal reminders and other follow up work
on the doorstep.
Douglas Gillespie, Electoral Registration Officer for the Highlands and
Western Isles, said: "This year's register is particularly important as it
will be used for the fixed term Scottish Parliamentary and Local
Government elections in May 2007. Failure to return a form could result in
the inability to vote next May.
"Failure to register can also prejudice the granting of credit as traders
routinely carry out checks, which include the electoral register.
Householders should remember to include any young people over the age of
16 and any EU, Commonwealth or Irish citizens resident at the address."
Anyone unsure of how to proceed should telephone the Electoral
Registration Officer on Freefone 0800 393783.
15 October 06
First Minister in Highlands and Islands Holyrood Campaign boost
 First
Minister Jack McConnell MSP recently visited Inverness to meet with Labour
activists ahead of the 2007 election. Jack McConnell met with over 50
local Labour candidates and activists from across the Highlands and Island
region, and took the opportunity to meet activists and discuss strategy
and policy ahead of Holyrood poll in May.
Following the event, Jack McConnell: "Labour's team
for the Highlands and Islands is stronger than ever.""Our experienced and
hard working list and constituency candidates will take Scottish Labour's
message to every household across the Highlands and Islands."
"Labour stands on a stronger record than at anytime in
the past seven years. The economy is growing, there are more jobs than
ever before, the National Health Service has delivered best ever waiting
times in Scotland, crime is down and we have taken the tough action
necessary to tackle anti-social behaviour. But Labour will not fight the
2007 election on our record."
"It will be the substance of our future programme that
we will take to the people of the Highlands and I look forward to the
months ahead."
Labour's Peter Peacock added, "As a native of the Isle
of Arran, Jack McConnell appreciates the impact remoteness has on the
delivery of public services and during his time as First Minister he has
been very supportive of our area. "In the Highlands and Islands we are
seeing the benefits of record investment in education, where the school
rebuilding and refurbishment programme is now well under way. We now have
more police officers in our communities that at any time in the past and
have seen record levels of investment in the health service. The economy
of the Highlands and Islands has grown considerably since devolution and
population decline in the area well and truly reversed."
"Together with the other Labour constituency and
regional list candidates I look forward to the forthcoming campaign and
the continuing opportunity to work to improve the lives of constituents
across the Highlands and Islands."
13 October 06
McCABE HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT ROLE OF COUNCILLORS
AHEAD OF 2007 ELECTIONS
Tom McCabe has highlighted the important contribution councillors make to
local communities, ahead of the introduction of a new form of voting for
the local government election on May 3 2007.
Councillors across Scotland will be elected using a
system of proportional representation, Single Transferable Vote (STV).
There is a dedicated website and phone number to ensure that voters and
candidates are fully informed on how the new system works.
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom
McCabe said: "The majority of Scotland's 1222 councillors represent a
registered political party, although around 20 per cent of them are
currently elected as independents. Regardless of political affiliation,
the one thing that all councillors share is an unstinting drive to do
what's best for their local communities.
"Councillors do an invaluable, and often undervalued,
job in contributing to their local community. By highlighting the
importance of the role of councillors, we hope more people from all walks
of life will be inspired to get involved in local politics now or in the
future."
Key facts on the Local Government Elections for 2007:
-
Most of the 1222 councillors currently represent a
registered political party, with around 20 per cent of them elected as
independents;
-
STV is designed to be a more proportional system than
the previous local government system of 'first past the post' - resulting
in each of the party's share of seats in the council more closely
reflecting its share of voter support;
-
Voters rank candidates numerically in order of
preference - ranking as many or as few candidates as they wish;
-
Voters should ensure they only rank candidates they
would be happy to see elected as every preference could count;
-
There will be new council wards - each one three to
four times bigger than current wards; and
-
These wards will be represented by either three or
four councillors who may represent a mixture of political persuasions.
For more information on how to become a councillor, or
how to vote using STV in the next local government elections go to:
www.votescotland.com or call
0131 244 7039.
10 September 06
Scottish Socialist Party In Highland Crisis
Members of the Highlands and Islands Regional Council of the Scottish
Socialist Party, as a group, have voted overwhelmingly to leave the SSP
and join Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement. Three branches in the
region had already voted to join
Solidarity en masse with 3 more to vote
this week.
The move means that the SSP are now left with only a
handful of members in the Highlands and will struggle to put together an
electoral list for next May. All but two of the nine listed candidates who
were selected earlier this year, to stand for the SSP in May, have now
joined Solidarity.
This follows a similar situation in the South of
Scotland region where over 100 members have now left to join Solidarity
leaving less than 20 SSP members in that region.
Steve Arnott, former Regional Organiser of the SSP in
the Highlands and Islands, and now a member of Solidarity said: " The
Regional Council voted 13 to 1 in favour of transferring all memberships,
assets and activity to Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement. The SSP
will have to parachute candidates in from Glasgow next May and that will
not be appreciated up here."
Over twenty branches and two entire regions have now
left the SSP completely, casting doubt over the SSP's ability to fight the
Scottish Elections in May.
The launch meeting of Solidarity, which was held in
Glasgow last Sunday, was well attended by former members of the SSP from
the Highlands & Islands Region.
Tommy Sheridan MSP added: This was a truly national
meeting with representation from all over Scotland. We believed our choice
was to face ongoing interminable warfare within the old party - or to
launch a new socialist political force that would rapidly become a party
the people of Scotland could believe in and which is dedicated to fighting
poverty, injustice and inequality in all its forms and which would
campaign for an independent socialist Scotland.
The Socialist Workers Platform (SWP) of the SSP
withdrew all of its 300 members from the SSP two weeks ago. The Committee
for a Workers International (CWI) have also left to join Solidarity taking
around 150 members with them.
9 of the SSP's elected Executive Committee have joined
the new party along with half of the elected Regional Organisers and over
half of the powerful Trades Union Committee.
All 11 of the selected list for 2007 in the South
region have also left to join
Solidarity.
10 September 06
Independents - Determined To Survive Political Party Challenges in 2007
Elections
The council elections in May 2007 will be held on the same day as the
elections for the Scottish Parliament. Independent councillors fear
they could be at disadvantage as the new wards will be three times larger
making it difficult to get round to canvass the electorate whilst party
label candidates will have the party members moving around supporting the
candidates for the Scottish Parliament and will co-ordinate canvassing and
leaflet drops for the local council candidates who belong to that party.
A loose association might mean that independent councillors who wish
Highland to remain and independent council might co-operate in putting out
information on their record even though they vote on all matters as they
see fit in the best interests of their constituents and do not toe any
party line as is the case in councils further south where a Labour or Lib
Dem administration is formed. Are the days of Highland independent
councillors numbered or will the electorate decide to maintain a majority
of independent councillors? At present their are 54 independent
councillors out of the 80 in Highland. At present the independent
councillors in Caithness are Bill Fernie (Wick West), Katrina MacNab
(Pulteneytown), Donnie Mackay (Thurso Central), Bill Mowat (Caithness
South East), Tom Jackson (Thurso East), John Green (Caithness North East)
Councillors who stood under party tickets ate listed
here. There are three Lib Dems - David Flear (Caithness
Central), Alastair MacDonald (Caithness North West) and Graeme Smith
(Wick) and one Labour Roger Saxon (Thurso West)..................More.
11 July 07
Labour Party Announces List
Candidates For 2007 Election
Following the Scottish Executive Committee meeting of the Scottish Labour
Party, the full ordered list ranking for the Highlands and Islands has
been published.
Highlands and Islands
1. Peter Peacock
2. Rhoda Grant
3. David Stewart
4. Christine Conniff
5. Michael Macmillan
6. Dawn Graham
7. Simon Harrison
28 June 06
Labour Candidate
Opens Up Blog Web Site
Blogging in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
 John
McKendrick, Labour�s prospective parliamentary candidate for Caithness,
Sutherland and Easter Ross has launched a blog to help connect with as
many residents of the far north as possible. He particularly hopes to
reach out to more young voters. His first blog deals with the world cup
and local sports facilities, where he reveals he supported England against
Ecuador, but will not do so against Portugal this Saturday. He is asking
local people to contact him on-line and start a discussion about what
further sports facilities are needed in their local communities.
3 May 06
Gordon Campbell
Independent Heads For 2007 Election
 Gordon Campbell is setting out to
win and is as determined as ever to fight the 2007 election with as
much fervour as in his previous campaigns. He passionately loves his
adopted area and Dornoch where he lives. A tireless campaigner he is
already well on his way to getting to all parts of the most northerly
mainland constituency of Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross.
3 May 06
Scottish Socialist Party Select
Candidates For 2007 Election
 The SSP have selected their list candidates to contest next year's
Scottish parliamentary elections in the Highlands and Islands region. Top
of the list and aiming to be elected as the party's first MSP from the
region is SSP regional co-ordinator and spokesperson, Steve Arnott, who
was selected by members with 77% of all first preference votes cast in a
Single Transferable Vote ballot. Frank Ward will stand in Caithness,
Sutherland. Announcing the result of the ballot to
members on May 1st - the traditional worker's day throughout the world -
Ray Stewart, the party's regional returning officer for internal
elections, said "this will be a team effort. All the candidates who have
put themselves forward will have a valuable role to play in the coming
year. We missed out narrowly in 2003 - this time we believe we can go one
better." The SSP failed to get a
list MSP elected in 2003 by just 870 votes out of an electorate of over
200,000 throughout the geographically vast region, which includes the
Highlands, Moray, the Northern Isles, the Hebrides and Argyll & Bute.
22 February 06
Labour Candidate Selected for 2007
Election
Caithness,
Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency Labour Party have selected their
candidate for the 2007 Scottish parliamentary elections. He is John
McKendrick, a 29 year-old barrister. John was born in Alexandria, on the
shores of Loch Lomond almost thirty years ago. He grew up in the
countryside in Stirlingshire, where his family still live, went to school
in Glasgow and studied at the LSE and Oxford before qualifying as a
barrister. 22 February 06
New Section for the 2007 Elections
Yes we know it seems along way off but the first signs are already
there that things are stirring with the Labour candidate John McKendrick
being selected to contest the seat. We will add other candidates and
information all the way to the final results in May 2007.
Council Elections
The council elections will be different next time round as we move to
multi member ward system. The proposals for the Highland Multi Member
wards can be found
Here Other changes include the elections
arrangements which for the first time will be electronic and due to the
need to use electronic equipment it is likely that all Highland votes will
be counted in Inverness with no count in Wick as in the past.
The voting system is to change to a Single Transferable Vote system
- a form of proportional representation agreed by the Scottish Parliament
in 2004. Councillors elected will receive an increase in their payments
but decrease in what they can claim as expenses with lower mileage
allowances and payment for night subsistance based on actual expenditure
rather than a fixed rate. Councillors who do not choose to
stand again will be a paid �1000 for each year they have stood as a
councillor if they stand down and do not put themselves forward again.
This is seen as move to get younger people involved in standing as
councillors. A slightly higher payments system is also aimed at
attracting younger people and women to stand in elections for local
councils. |
