The new constituency of Banffshire & Buchan Coast will take in areas currently in Moray constituency, such as Cullen, Buckie, Portknockie and Rothiemay. The rest of the constituency takes in the current Banff & Buchan from Sandend and Aberchirder and around the coast to Banff, Macduff, Fraserburgh Peterhead and Boddam. Central Buchan along with Cruden Bay and Hatton move into a new East Aberdeenshire Constituency where First Minister Alex Salmond will be the candidate.
At the last Scottish election in 2007, Stewart Stevenson was returned by the electors of Banff & Buchan with the highest majority of any candidate in the whole country.
Congratulating Stewart Stevenson on his selection, Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said:
"Stewart knows this area and its people well and is familiar with the concerns that North-east residents have about the future, and they are concerns he shares. Like local taxpayers, Stewart doesn’t want to see our council tax go up, and as Banffshire & Buchan Coast’s MSP he would be part of a team of SNP MSPs that will freeze the council tax for a further two years.
“As Transport Minister in the first ever SNP Government, Stewart has worked hard to move forward projects which had stalled under the previous Labour/Liberal Scottish Executive, such as the Aberdeen bypass, and has given us rail improvements in an area which was previously poorly-served by rail.
"From campaigning and working with Stewart on many occasions, I know him to possess a tremendous work ethic, and a real desire to make Scotland better.”
Stewart Stevenson added:
"It is a privilege to be selected to contest the new constituency of Banffshire & Buchan Coast. I am ambitious and optimistic about the future of the North-east, and am proud to be part of an SNP team putting forward this positive message in the coming election.
"Since 2007 much has been achieved. Waiting times in the NHS are at a record low. Over 300 schools have been built or substantially refurbished. There are over 1000 extra police on our streets and, as a result, crime rates are at a 30 year low. And of course the Council Tax has been frozen now for three years, protecting family budgets.
"But there is still more to do. I will be campaigning for the changes that will allow Scotland to deliver economic growth and an alternative to London’s dismal decade of cuts. I will be putting the people of Banffshire & Buchan Coast at the heart of my activities, inviting them to join me and be part of making Scotland the better nation we all know it can be."
