Edinburgh Central voters will play key role in drive for independence – Angus Robertson

Edinburgh Central is a bellwether political seat. It was represented by a Tory in the time of Margaret Thatcher, a Labour MP when Tony Blair was Prime Minister and the SNP when the party won a majority in 2011.

Edinburgh Central was Tory when Margaret Thatcher held sway

Next year’s Scottish Parliament elections will continue the tradition that the seat is a key swing constituency. If the SNP wants to secure a pro-independence majority at Holyrood it has to win in Edinburgh Central. All parties will be trying to put their best candidates forward in a contest that will receive unprecedented national and international media coverage.

As never before, the pressure to deliver and the level of scrutiny will be immense.

I am disappointed by updated SNP candidacy rules which have been poorly calibrated and communicated, including new limits of direct access to members who will ultimately make the decision. Members should have the broadest range of candidates to choose from and maximum information to help make their decision.

Over the next few months political party members in Edinburgh Central will decide who their candidates should be, and I am hoping that SNP members will want my local, national and international experience to help deliver independence which is now supported by a majority of people in Scotland. I believe that an independence referendum will happen during the next Scottish Parliament and will be transformational for the country in general and Edinburgh Central in particular.

All people in Scotland, including MSPs, MPs and local government representatives will have a part to play in making independence happen. Let’s work together to make it a reality.