Scottish Greens choose candidate to stand in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale

The Scottish Greens are to field a candidate in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale in May’s Holyrood elections, the first time they have contested the seat since it was created in 2011.

Dominic Ashmole has been chosen as the Green candidate for Midlothian South

Their candidate will be Dominic Ashmole, who works for an Edinburgh healthcare technology firm and was arrested during Extinction Rebellion’s 2020 sit-in protests in London’s Parliament Square.

He said he would campaign to build on the solidarity experienced by communities during the pandemic to make the case for a green recovery.

“Covid-19 has highlighted enormous kindness and resilience in our communities – a fierce love that has seen people support and protect one another. This may become our greatest strength and comfort as we build a green recovery and face the reality of climate breakdown.

“Everyone keeps hearing about the climate emergency, but we are not seeing governments take concrete and credible action. No wonder people feel confused. They are told it is an emergency, but they see no urgency from governments.

“In reality, the next ten years are make or break. If we don’t halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, we’ll overshoot safe limits of warming.

“I’ve spent most of my career in science and technology. I know both can help solve our problems, but it’s maddening to hear politicians hiding behind ‘future tech’ and dodging the simple solutions we already understand.”

The constituency is currently held by the SNP’s Christine Grahame, who had a 5,868 majority over the Tories at the last Scottish Parliament election in 2016.

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