A THIRD candidate has been confirmed for the Haddington and Lammermuir ward ahead of next year’s East Lothian Council elections.

Stuart Crawford, who lives in the town, will represent the Scottish Liberal Democrats in May.

Mr Crawford stood for the seat in 2019 during a by-election after Conservative Brian Small stepped down.

Craig Hoy, who is now a South Scotland MSP as well as a councillor for the ward, won the seat years ago.

Mr Hoy (Conservative) has already confirmed he will step down from the role in May, while John McMillan and Shamin Akhtar (Labour) have announced they will stand for re-election.

Neither the Conservatives nor the SNP, who have Tom Trotter as an existing councillor, have announced any candidates for the seat.

Mr Crawford recently met with the police area commander to discuss anti-social behaviour in the ward and has been vocal about Haddington’s traffic and parking problems.

He has also expressed concerns over the number of new houses being built without the necessary infrastructure.

Mr Crawford moved to Haddington in 1998, when he retired from the army after a 20-year career, and has lived in the town and other parts of East Lothian ever since.

He now works mainly as a defence and security consultant and writer, with his second book, a memoir of his army career, to be published later in 2022.