Lucy Beattie selected by SNP to fight for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat at next Westminster election

A WESTER Ross woman has been selected to contest the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat for the SNP at the next Westminster election.

Lucy Beattie, from Leckmelm, near Ullapool, has thanked party members for their support and passed on her best wishes to the other candidate, Steve Chisholm.

Ms Beattie took over her family farm at just 21 after tragically losing both her parents, and has now been managing it for over 28 years, as well as raising her family.

Earlier this month she told the Ross-shire Journal: "We need politicians with real-world experience, and I can draw on a diverse career to speak for ordinary people.

"The Highlands are a vibrant and beautiful place to live and work. We are replete in natural resources from agriculture to forestry and renewables, but our local area also faces a unique range of problems and concerns. Sadly, there is a long history of asset-stripping in our area, and very little recourse for the people living here.

"We are in a very strong trading position with a vast potential for renewables, carbon credits and biodiversity credits. However, we are scuppered by Westminster as Scotland has no power over energy policy or international trade. If these resources are to be protected and traded, there needs to be proper community support, and a shared vision for assets that will support a better way of life for people who live here."

And she added: "I am a passionate advocate for Scottish independence – we must have the right to decide what kind of country Scotland should be. We have the capacity, a distinct legal system from the union, we have a our own parliament at Holyrood and outstanding academic institutions. Devolution does not go far enough, it never will, and a full transfer of powers means autonomy over Scotland’s fiscal policy, monetary policy, trade, energy and international affairs."

As a prospective candidate, she said: "Community is one of our strongest assets, it is not something that can be bought – it must be protected with careful investment. The time has come to be brave and to stand up for our rights as citizens living in the Highlands, and this is what I will fight for."

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd passed on her good wishes and said the area had boasted two excellent candidates.

She said: "I look forward to working with you and have no doubt you’ll do a brilliant job."

And Mr Chisholm was magnanimous in defeat.

He thanked a number of local politicians for their support in his campaign. He said he was "truly humbled" by the support he had received, adding: "I just can't thank you all enough."

And he called on party members to rally behind the chosen candidate "to make sure that Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross becomes an SNP seat at the next election."

The sitting MP for the sprawling constituency is Tain-based Jamie Stone, a Liberal Democrat.

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