Commenting on the Tories' announcement of a replacement candidate eight weeks prior to the election, Banff & Buchan MSP and candidate for the new Banffshire & Buchan Coast constituency Stewart Stevenson said:
"I welcome the Conservative candidate to frontline politics and wish him an enjoyable campaign for the next eight weeks."
On the Conservative Party, Mr Stevenson continued,
"It has been clear for some time that it has been the SNP Government in Edinburgh, not the Tory-led Government in London, that has been taking the lead in standing up for Scottish fishing interests.
"A vote for the SNP in May is a vote to support fishing, and our other rural industries."
Departing Tory candidate Jimmy Buchan was also highly supportive of the SNP Government's record on fisheries prior to being approached to stand as a Conservative candidate, telling the Sunday Express on 8 June 2008:
"For the first time in many years I see a government actually fighting for the best interests of Scottish industry and I see a government willing to work and listen to the people at the sharp end of the industry."
Peterhead North & Rattray (A)
Fraserburgh & District (A)
Troup (A)
Keith and Cullen (M)
Banff & District (A)
Peterhead South & Cruden (A)
Buckie (M)
