Ross-shire candidates speak out on the General Election announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Highland Westminster candidates have been reacting to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for a summer election in just six weeks time.

He made the announcement outside No.10 in the pouring rain earlier today essentially trying to establish himself as a safe pair of hands who is “I'm guided by doing what is right for our country, not what is easy.”

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“I can't say the same thing for the Labour Party,” he continued. “Because I don't know what they offer. And in truth, I don't think you know either. And that's because they have no plan.”

The Prime Minister argued the UK economy is on the mend and people need to stick with the Conservatives to “build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.”

But Keir Starmer’s party has a clear 20 point lead in the polls and it remains to be seen whether the Conservatives can overcome that within the next 43 days of campaigning.

A boundary shake-up means that readers of the Ross-shire Journal depending on where they live will either be voting for the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross candidates or those standing in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.

All the candidates or their parties have been contacted and some are beginning to have their say but few, unsurprisingly have been complimentary of the UK government’s performance.

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross:

Jamie Stone – Liberal Democrat

I welcome the announcement of a General Election. For weeks and months, too long in fact, constituents have been saying to me that they want a chance to make their opinions known.

In both the UK and indeed in Scotland, there has been growing dissatisfaction, sometimes verging on incredulity and anger, with both the London and Edinburgh Governments. At last, the people now have the chance to vote.

I see this as the perfect opportunity for me to highlight the pressing issues that face the people in the Far North. It's time to make Highlanders heard when it comes to the state of our infrastructure, the centralisation of our health and maternity services, waiting times for GPs and dentists, the need to secure investment to maximise employment opportunities in order to halt and reverse the curse of depopulation, and the general feeling that people up here are being left behind. That is what I shall campaign on.

We do democracy very well in this country and we will do so again.

Lucy Beattie – SNP

I am delighted to announce that my campaign to be elected as the first female MP for the Highlands starts today. This is an announcement the country has been anticipating for many, many months and I’m ready to hit the ground running.

The Tory government has finally laid themselves bare to the powers of democracy and this will be evident in the ballot boxes.

The timing is on the surface, expedient for Rishi Sunak, given the headline figures for inflation are showing a dip. But in reality this is a snapshot of a failing economy and core inflation has not fallen as expected. Crucially interest rates seem set to remain high and that will continue to hit those who have mortgages due to renew the hardest.

The central plank of my campaign is to address the cost-of-living crisis. For too long the people of Scotland have been subject to the vacillations of Westminster as they have steered a haphazard course through Brexit and the pandemic. Added to this a mini-budget that crashed the economy we now face this alongside the economic effects of the war in Ukraine.

It is essential to consolidate and fight for policies to promote stability and wellbeing. In the North Highlands the challenges we need to address specifically relate to energy costs, warm, decent housing and jobs so that our working age population can be retained and grow.

Today the 2022 census results show that Sutherland and Wester-Ross top the table for population decline and this contributes to the overall population decline in the North. Brexit was a disaster, and work needs to be done to tackle this. Right now we lack workers in agriculture, in hospitality, but most crucially in health and social care.

The cost-of-living and depopulation are the two key issues that need to be addressed with fiscal and economic levers that are reserved to Westminster. If elected I will fight tirelessly for these powers to deliver long-term interventions to bring significant change to all those who live and work in the North Highlands.

Anne Thomas – Greens

I'm standing for Westminster to address the Climate, Nature, Cost of Living and Health Crises.

Scottish Greens are the only ones serious about tackling these but the Westminster Government holds the purse strings and can and has vetoed decisions made in Scotland.

We need Greens in Westminster to say 'no' to new oil, gas or nuclear and to enable the transformation of our economy to one which is fairer and provides more jobs in the new Green economy.

We want to provide more money for the local economy to support local food, and businesses, warmer homes and better health rather than wasting billions subsidising the very fossil fuels which are destroying our future and allowing big business and wealthy individuals to suck money away. We would make polluters pay and introduce a wealth tax.

We are already seeing the effects of the climate and nature crises with fires, floods and failed crops around the world and we cannot wait another 5 years to properly address them.

Greens are also standing up against the genocide in Gaza which the UK Government is complicit in, with UK funded weapons being used. Many voters in this Constituency are aghast at this and support our stance.

The timing, as expected, gives other parties the minimum amount of notice possible but we are prepared to fight for our future and the future of our planet.

Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire:

MP Drew Hendry – SNP

I think most would be surprised by the timing of the election, but it's good that we will soon see the end of this Tory Government. We have always urged them to bring this election forward, and we are ready to go out and earn the trust and votes of the people in this constituency.

As I seek re-election, my priority will be, as it has always been, to stand up for fairness for our communities and to support those struggling to make ends meet due to the cost-of-living crisis. I will continue to fight for adequate funding for our hospitals and public services, and work with others to build opportunities for our region and our young people. I believe, together, we can make a difference.

I have been out and about speaking to constituents during my door surgeries, and rising costs continue to worry many people. I am sure that the cost-of-living crisis will be very much at the forefront of their minds when they cast their vote on 4th July.

Angus MacDonald – Liberal Democrats

The people in the Highlands are desperate for a change. The SNP and Conservatives are both stale after well over a decade in power. Up here we feel neglected and unrepresented in Westminster and Holyrood.

I have been campaigning for 16 months and am as ready as anyone. There are only two candidates really contending, myself and the SNP’s Drew Hendry. My hunch is that it will be a close run thing.

I promise to work extremely consensually with whoever gets elected for the benefit of the Highlands. My main task is to get funding for Highland infrastructure for roads and hospitals, help make our economy thrive and work with the energy minister to ensure we maximise the opportunity for community benefits from renewables, to include ensuring lower electricity bills.

Peter Newman – Greens

The timing of this election shows the desperation from the dying embers of this administration and this failed prime minister.

The campaign is going to be fought on the need for greater fairness and on overcoming the cost of Westminster crisis everyone has suffered under these neoliberal extremists.

Keir Starmer and his Labour partners offer nothing but more of the same and now is the time for voters to choose candidates who know what matters - a world fit for each other and services and businesses working for the many, not the few.

As Scottish Greens, we will be pushing for companies to pay their fair way and to hit hard individuals and companies plundering our planet at the expense of the people.

Ruraidh Stewart – Conservative

I'm happy that the date has been set. I enjoy being out in the constituency, knocking on doors and actively engaging with people to discuss their priorities. The positive economic outlook following the recent spring budget and decreasing inflation rates are now starting to be felt in people's pockets. Calling the Election for July also avoids the challenges associated with winter elections, particularly in regions like the Highlands, where our weather and shorter daylight hours can significantly impact voter participation. A summer election should ensure a higher turnout, leading to a more representative outcome.

The central plank of my campaign will be sustainable economic growth. I will fight for better funding and resources for healthcare, physical and digital infrastructure, and more robust support and less bureaucracy for our crofters, farmers, and fishermen. I will focus on local concerns, addressing critical issues such as the housing crisis and sustainable tourism, which are vital for enhancing living standards and economic opportunities in our community.

This election is likely to be decided on several issues. However, I believe economic performance is the key issue. Controlling inflation, job creation, and tax policies and demonstrating a track record of economic stability and growth will be crucial.

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