Elgin South By-election: ‘Only Labour stood shoulder to shoulder with us’
Voters in Elgin City South will go to the polls this Thursday to elect a new councillor.
One of the ward’s three seats became vacant in July when SNP councillor Graham Leadbitter was elected to Westminster as the MP for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey.
There are four candidates standing – Liberal Democrat Neil Alexander, Conservative Elaine Kirby, Catriona McBain for Labour and the SNP’s Laura Mitchell.
Here, in the last of four articles we have published today, we speak to Catriona McBain.
The Labour candidate is a former lecturer and curriculum lead at UHI Moray and has lived in Elgin for more than 30 years.
As well as education she also has experience working in criminal justice, including a period as a probation officer at Wormwood Scrubs.
Ms McBain says: “I recently retired from my job teaching at Moray College and I must confess that running for public office was never part of my retirement plans.
“I was secretary of the EIS FELA branch at UHI Moray for a considerable number of years, and spent the past decade fighting together with others for lecturers’ pay and conditions, as well as against cuts to funding, courses and jobs.
“In all that time the only party that came and stood shoulder to shoulder with us was Labour.
“It was because of this solidarity that I became a member of the Labour party.
“I was very genuinely surprised but honoured when local activists encouraged me to put my name forward for this by-election.
“I reside in Elgin South and therefore what happens here matters to me very much.”
Ms McBain is in favour of an Elgin by-pass and dualling the A96, believing it to be an important issue for local residents
She says: “It was Labour councillors and the Moray TUC that first led the campaign for a bypass over 20 years ago. And the cause is more pressing now that it ever was.
“A bypass would significantly reduce congestion, deliver economic growth, greatly enhance road safety and air quality within Elgin while improving the journey for those passing through.
“The most important thing is keeping promises. The SNP promised us dualling of the A96 way back in 2007, and have made the same promise again and again at every election since.
“The best way to make it happen is to make sure the SNP pay a price at the ballot box for failure to deliver.”
Ms McBain blames Scottish Government cuts for the council’s £12.7 million gap in its finances.
And she would do away with bureaucracy as a step to resolving the issue.
Meanwhile, she believes education is key for children’s life chances and should be seen as an investment.
She says: “Last year’s budget was probably the worst budget in history for local government.
“If Moray received the Scottish average funding per head of population we would have £16 million more in our budget.
“The SNP need to fund Moray Council properly.
“Should something have to go then I will start with the waste and bureaucracy that we can all see in local government.
“And I am not shy at all at getting stuck in to do what is necessary.
“Education is an investment in the future prosperity of our community and country as a whole.
“It’s vital to the wellbeing and life chances of our children and young people going forward.”
Ms McBain praises efforts by Labour councillor John Divers to address the urban gull menace in the town, but adds that a collective approach is needed.
She says“I am pleased that the council agreed to Labour’s motion to put pressure on NatureScot in order to allow councils to take effective action.
“I know that there are communities around Scotland with the same problem.
“Therefore there needs to be more coordinated action to pressurise the Scottish Government to see sense on this issue.”
The vote will take place on Thursday, November 7, with the polls open from 7am to 10pm.
Results will be announced the next day following the count which will take place in Moray Council annex.
Related articles:
Elgin south By-election: ‘Too many people feel Moray Council isn’t working for them’
Elgin South By-election: ‘I’m offering a common sense approach’, says candidate
Elgin South By-election: ‘I’m fed up of Moray Council making the news for the wrong reasons’
