Airdrie and Shotts set to be the next Parliamentary by-election?
Neil Gray, the SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts, is seeking selection as a candidate for the Scottish Parliament. If he’s selected, the SNP’s rules require him to stand down from the Westminster Parliament:
Pleased to announce that I’ve written to the convenor of Airdrie & Shotts SNP branch & SNP National Secretary to confirm that I’m standing to be the SNP candidate for Airdrie & Shotts at the Holyrood elections. Thanks to all who’ve encouraged me to stand. My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/K71AZdlraA
— Neil Gray MP (@neilgraysnp) August 31, 2020
The NEC decision stands, so if selected as the candidate I will need to stand down to allow a by election on the day of the Holyrood vote, probably end of March.
— Neil Gray MP (@neilgraysnp) August 31, 2020
It’s worth emphasising that the SNP rule is not that he has to stand down if elected to the Scottish Parliament. Rather it is that he has to stand down if selected.
The result in the 2019 general election was:
SNP 45% (+8)
Labour 32% (-5)
Conservative 18% (-6)
Lib Dem 4% (+2)
Green 2% (+2)
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