Labour’s choice

Orkney and Shetland Labour parties have chosen their candidate to contest the Orkney and Shetland seat at the next Westminster election.

After hustings in each area, local members voted for Mark Cooper to be their representative.

Mr Cooper, 24, has strong links with Shetland. His birth was registered in Tingwall as his family was living in Scalloway at the time. His parents have since returned to live in Yell, where his father, David Cooper, is a local minister and his mother Veronica teaches music.

Mr Cooper said: “I am delighted to be given the chance to fight an election in an area which is so special to me. I look forward to meeting as many people as I can and discussing common issues that affect not just their family but mine as well, such as the cost of living on the islands and energy creation.”

Local party chairman Gordon Thomson said they had chosen an “excellent candidate” and that they looked forward to the Westminster contest.

Mr Cooper has been a Labour party member since 2005 and is currently the east of Scotland representative on the Scottish Young Labour campaign committee, as well as youth and student officer in his local party.