 | 'The fact that Mary Scanlon omits in her literature to tell people she is a Tory while she tries to deceive the electorate that she was a close associate of Margaret Ewing is a tactic of the political gutter.' John Swinney MSP, 7 th April 2006. |  |
| 'The fact that Mary Scanlon omits in her literature to tell people she is a Tory while she tries to deceive the electorate that she was a close associate of Margaret Ewing is a tactic of the political gutter.' John Swinney MSP, 7 th April 2006. | |
The Scottish Conservatives yesterday staked their claim to the Moray seat left vacant by the late Margaret Ewing.
Their standard-bearer, Mary Scanlon, was joined in Elgin town centre by party leader Annabel Goldie and party chairman Peter Duncan to launch the Tory campaign.
The by-election, which will take place on April 27, was caused by the death of Mrs Ewing two weeks ago.
Ms Scanlon has given up her Highland seat to fight for the Moray constituency and says she will move to the Inverness area if she wins.
"People should vote for me because I have been a strong voice in the Scottish Parliament over the years," Ms Scanlon said. "I have been hard-working and conscientious and taken the issues of the Highlands to the parliament and worked with people to find solutions.
"I will be the best voice at the parliament to represent the people of Moray."
She said she would be campaigning on issues such as flood prevention.
Ms Scanlon and Mrs Ewing worked together on several issues at Holyrood.
"Margaret was an excellent representative," Ms Scanlon said. "She was hard working and conscientious and people respected her because of it.
"I think that is why many people voted for her. Many of her votes were for her and not independence."
She added: "Margaret and I were good friends. She was a nationalist and I am a unionist but, when you are on cross-party groups, you become friends with people from all parties.
"I worked with her on a cross-party group dealing with epilepsy. I recently set up a working group on infertility issues and, when I asked for a representative from the SNP, it was Margaret who came forward. We worked very closely on lots of issues."
Miss Goldie said: "Mary is an excellent candidate as she has been a very gutsy fighter in the Scottish Parliament and has a very good idea of what the needs and requirements of the people of Moray are.
"As an MSP from a different part of the country, I am aware these needs and challenges differ across Scotland. There are many complex issues in this constituency, such as Elgin's secondary schools, flood prevention and anti-social behaviour."
Mr Duncan said: "Margaret Ewing was a very effective and committed local campaigner and I have no hesitation in paying tribute to the work she did.
"Mary Scanlon is an excellent representative and someone who is very committed to this constituency. She has been an MSP for seven years but wants to win this seat.
"Local people are seeing an effective local campaigner being selected for the constituency and that has got to be good news for them and for Mary."
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