SNP selects candidates for Rutherglen and Hamilton West by ballot
Katy Loudon, a South Lanarkshire councilwoman, announced the news of her election in a post this afternoon.
Councilor Loudon, who represents Cambuslang East Borough in the constituency, said she was delighted to be selected.
“I am delighted to be confirmed as the SNP’s candidate in the possible Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-elections and look forward to fighting alongside our brilliant campaigners for the return of an SNP MP to the region,” she said.
“People across the constituency deserve to have a strong MP who is committed to building a better future for them, their family and their community – and that’s what they get by voting for me and the SNP.
SNP Council Member Katy Loudon, the party’s candidate for a possible election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, pictured with First Minister Humza Yousaf. Photo SNP.
“With the limited powers at our disposal, the SNP is taking steps to improve the lives of people across Scotland and mitigate the worst of Tory rule, but families continue to be protected by a Westminster system with two rights, Brexit -friendly parties.” Central London.
“The SNP is the only party that offers a positive vision for a fairer, greener and more prosperous future and a definitive end to the harm done to Tory governments.”
Her statement came hours after details of a recall petition were published on South Lanarkshire Council’s website.
CONTINUE READING: Details on where Rutherglen and Hamilton West’s recall petition can be signed
The petition opens on June 20th and ends on July 31st. If 10% of the constituency voters sign it (8,113 voters), Ms Ferrier will be removed as MP and a by-election will be called in the autumn.
A by-election is seen as a major test for First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf and Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar.
For Mr Yousaf, it will be his first election test since becoming First Minister and may take place while a police investigation into his party’s finances is ongoing.
Mr Sarwar, on the other hand, may reflect the outcome on his party’s ability to win back voters it lost to the SNP after the 2014 independence referendum.
Scottish Labor has selected modern studies teacher Michael Shanks as a by-election candidate and believes it can win the constituency the party last held in 2017.
Ms Ferrier won the SNP’s seat in the 2019 general election by a majority of 5,230 votes. She is now an independent MP after losing the SNP presidency for breaking Covid rules.
CONTINUE READING: Sarwar claims the SNP is scared of the election and is calling for Ferrier’s resignation as MP
Earlier this week MPs voted to suspend her from the House of Commons for 30 days.
The sanction meant that the procedure to launch a recall petition – the first to take place in Scotland – was launched.
Ms Ferrier was found guilty of culpable and reckless behavior in Glasgow Sheriff Court last August after admitting to traveling on a train in September 2020 despite knowing she had contracted Covid.
The MP also spoke in the House of Commons and visited a number of places in Glasgow including a mass at Mungo’s Church and a bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire while awaiting the results of a Covid test.
After the positive result was obtained, she lied to her colleagues and said she had to go home to visit a sick relative.
She was sentenced to 270 hours of community service after pleading guilty to willfully putting people “at risk of infection, disease and death”.
