Dear Deidre Brock, Gordon Munro, Iain McGill, Lorna Slater and Martin Veart. We would be delighted if you would take part in our friendly online hustings.
We understand that as candidates for Edinburgh North and Leith you will be working all hours of the day and night in the short time left before the general election on 8 June.
But we would love to learn a little bit more about you and why you are stending for election. There has probably never been a moire challenging time for our elected representatives. Many voters do not get the chance to meet their local candidates face to face and it is often difficult to see the real person beneath the media stereotype.
The aim of this simple questionnaire is to provide an opportunity for you to share your politicial and personal motivations and inspirations – and for us to meet the human individual who is taking the risk of standing for election and asking for our votes.
Questions
- What are the most important issues for people in the constituency? Name perhaps three.
- How would you use your seat in Westminster to address local issues, using powers not held by the Scottish Parliament?
- What or who motivated you to become a politician – were you inspired by anyone in particular and if so what did you admire about them?
- Being an MP is a hugely demanding job, how do you like to unwind, relax and recharge your batteries?
- Can you share with us a quotation from a favourite poem or song?
Our five local candidates are (in alphabetical order of first name)
Deidre Brock, SNP standing for re-election after winning the seat from Labour’s Mark Lazarowicz in 2015
Gordon Munro, Labour, local councillor since 2003, re-elected Leith Ward 4 May.
Iain McGill, Conservative, stood for Westminster in 2010 and 2015, and Scottish Parliament in 2016.
Lorna Slater, Green, engineering project manager, standing for election for the first time.
Martin Veart, Lib Dem, formerly oil and gas industry, studying for MSc Heriot Watt.