Would-be SNP candidate for Edinburgh Southern pulls out after failing party vetting

ONE of the SNP hopefuls bidding to become the party’s candidate in Edinburgh Southern at next year’s Holyrood elections has pulled out of the race after failing the vetting process.

Michael Sturrock plans to turn his website into a hub for persuading former No voters to back independence

Michael Sturrock was a No voter in the 2014 independence referendum who had converted to Yes after becoming disillusioned with the status quo because of Brexit and growing inequality. He argued his experience would help him to persuade others who had voted No to make the switch.

But the SNP’s vetting panel told him he did not have enough local campaign experience to qualify as a candidate for the 2021 election.

Mr Sturrock said he was disappointed but would help campaign to help elect SNP candidates across Edinburgh next May.

He said: “It’s understandable – I’m a relatively new member and relatively new to the movement. I’m going to be turning my website into a hub for the No to Yes movement and continuing the work on that, persuading others who are undecided or still on the No side, making it a place for discussion and for them to look at the arguments.”

An SNP source was quoted in The National describing Mr Sturrock as “a huge talent” and adding: “We look forward to him running in the future. He will make an excellent candidate and parliamentarian”.

The other would-be candidates in Edinburgh Southern are Catriona MacDonald, who stood in the general election last year; Southside/Newington councillor Alison Dickie; and party activist Doug Thomson. City council transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes has also been tipped to stand but she has not yet declared her intention.

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