Highland councillor to stand for SNP in Shetland

The SNP has announced that Highland councillor Jean Urquhart will be its Shetland candidate in this May’s Holyrood elections.

Ms Urquhart, an Ullapool councillor who has run a hotel in the town for over 40 years and also sits on the University of the Highlands and Islands board of governors, was confirmed as the party’s candidate today.

The nationalists appear to have had some difficulty in finding a suitable nominee for the seat after vetoing an attempt by former SIC chief executive David Clark to stand. Candidates for every other constituency in Scotland were announced at the SNP party conference in October 2010.

In 2007, Val Simpson won 1,622 votes for the SNP as it finished second behind Liberal Democrat Tavish Scott. The nationalists also finished runner-up in 2003.

Along with Mr Scott, Labour has confirmed that Glasgow-based human rights lawyer Jamie Kerr will stand. The Conservatives are expected to announce a candidate later this week, while the Scottish Greens will not be fielding anyone. Sustainable Shetland chairman Billy Fox is understood to be weighing up whether or not to stand as an independent.