Selection Box: Highlands & Islands

In the Highlands and Islands, there are a wave of retirements on the way, with Jim Mather, John Farquhar Munro and Jamie Stone all leaving in 2011. In Argyll & Bute, Education Secretary and current MSP for the South of Scotland Mike Russell will replace Jim Mather as the SNP candidate, with Alison Hay looking to win the seat back for the LibDems and current Regional MSP Jamie McGrigor making the pitch for the Tories. Now, at this point, I'd usually mention the QIB here, but the fact that Mike Russell, who lives in this constituency, is a sitting MSP and a Cabinet Secretary to boot, probably neutralises it, along with the fact that for Holyrood, this seat is an SNP/LibDem marginal and the Tories are some distance off the pace. However, QIB would certainly apply in Caithness, Sutherland & Ross (where Regional MSP Rob Gibson will be having a go), and Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch (where LibDem Alan MacRae will be hoping to defend the seat against SNP MSP Dave Thompson). And the average bonus of a quasi-incumbent equates to a 6% swing, which would put both seats in the SNP column.

Meanwhile, it's worth flagging up that Mary Scanlon has been selected in Inverness & Nairn. If I were feeling uncharitable, I would mention that she attempted to present herself as "A New Bonnie Fechter for Moray" following the death of Margaret Ewing, but that wouldn't be like me at all, would it? In fact, she was never a bonnie fechter for Moray: she'd stood in Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber in 1999 and 2003, and doubtless only stood in the Moray By-Election as she'd already been selected for the seat for the 2007 Election. I mention this simply to point out to those who remember that campaign that she has not been ejected from her base, she is actually returning to it.

Back to the Selection Box

The first big news is that Jim Mather has fended off a challenge from former MSP and SNP Leadership contender Mike Russell to be the SNP's candidate in Argyll & Bute. This was something of a Clash of the Titans: Mather is one of the SNP's most credible spokespeople, while Russell is one of the Party's leading intellectual lights. Russell will still be seeking a List candidacy, though, so it's still possible for him to make a comeback.

Meanwhile, Donald Anderson, the Leader of Edinburgh Council, has announced that he won't be seeking re-election to the Council as he's seeking a place at Holyrood, as Labour's candidate in Edinburgh South. Of all the bridges to burn, this is something: in spite of everything that's happened to them the LibDems aren't doing badly for themselves right now, particularly against Labour, so I can't see Mike Pringle being unseated, especially by the Leader of a council that has found itself almost permanently in the doldrums since 2003. I mean, honestly, does the man who tried and failed to convince Edinburgh residents to back Road Tolls and Stock Transfers, and who saw his party lose its majority on the Council, really think that he has what it takes to win back a seat that Labour lost four years ago? The answer would appear to be Yes, so Anderson is now on my list for MacNumpty's Eejit of the Year Award.