Alyn Smith MEP has been confirmed as the SNP candidate in the forthcoming Westminster elections for the Stirling constituency.
Alyn is Scotland’s longest serving MEP, Group Leader of the SNP Group, President of the European Free Alliance Group and First Vice President of the European Green Group. If elected he will stand down as MEP and be replaced in Brussels by the next placed SNP European candidate.
Alyn said:
“I’m delighted, and raring to go as part of the SNP team. The SNP runs Stirling Council, and my great friend Bruce Crawford MSP represents Stirling in our national Parliament in Edinburgh. We won the European election here convincingly, as well as voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU. It is high time we won this seat back at Westminster too and spoke up for Stirling and Scotland in Europe.
“Stirling is the jewel in Scotland’s crown, and Stirling constituency is the heart of Scotland. I want to make it the heart of Scotland’s politics too, not east nor West, nor highland or central belt. To win Scotland we must win Stirling. It will be a tough debate but I’m up to it.
“Deciding to put myself forward for Westminster and so leaving the European Parliament has been a tough decision. But I want to be where the fight is, and the fight we need to win is not in Brussels or Edinburgh. Scotland faces being dragged out of the EU against our will, by Westminster. We’ll turn that argument around at Westminster, by having fewer Tories. I know the EU inside out, I’ll go through them.
“I’ve already hit the ground running. Having an office here as well as representing Stirling along with the rest of Scotland in the European Parliament for 15 years I have already good connections, which I look forward to building up and uniting the pro-EU majority behind my candidacy.”