EUAN Davidson has been announced as the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for East Lothian in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections next year.
Mr Davidson was raised in Loanhead in Midlothian and attended school in Penicuik, he is currently working as a caseworker for Christine Jardine, MP for Edinburgh West.
He is former president of Liberal Youth Scotland and has worked as a social worker, specialising in child protection and homeless young people.
He has also previously completed a voluntary placement in the Calais refugee camps.
Catriona Bhatia was selected as the lead candidate for the south of Scotland regional list, which includes most of East Lothian.
A Peeblesshire businesswoman, who also lives near the town, she now runs a company with her husband Ranjiv which promotes and supports Scottish whisky exports.
She has had a successful career in the tourism industry before being elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Tweeddale in the Borders, she is also a previous deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council.
On being selected as candidate Mr Davidson said: “I am really proud to be selected as candidate for East Lothian especially as I grew up in the Lothians.
“This is a critical election for East Lothian and south of Scotland with the Liberal Democrats determined to fight for those who are under-represented.
“Even in East Lothian there is a lot of work to do to tackle poverty, including child poverty, to improve schools and health provision and provide better access to housing for first time buyers and working families.
“It also worries me to see the way the SNP government has operated as a centralising force.
“Examples here include the closure of the local Haddington courts and the overruling of locally made planning decisions.”
Ms Bhatia said: “I am looking forward to campaigning across the south of Scotland.
“Our area, with its stunning natural environment and its innovative businesses, has so much potential to have a vibrant, rural economy and be part of the green recovery that the Lib Dems are calling for.
“People feel let down by this centralist Scottish Government and want more investment in our communities.
“I am determined to be their voice in Holyrood to get the services and support that are needed to address social, educational and health inequalities across the South of Scotland.”
Robert O’Riordan, convenor of East Lothian Liberal Democrats and the party’s candidate in last year’s Westminster election, said: “Recent election results clearly show that there is an appetite for Liberal Democrat representation, and we are fortunate to have strong candidates for the 2021 Scottish elections.
“Struggling governments at Westminster and Holyrood continue to divide the country; they are not gripping the important long-term issues that really matter to voters. The Lib Dems represent a realistic, practical alternative for East Lothian.”
Other Holyrood candidates announced in East Lothian are Craig Hoy for the Conservatives and Paul McLennan for the SNP.
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