SNP activist Laura Mitchell nominated to fight Moray seat in Brexit snap general election
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A FRONTRUNNER has emerged for the SNP in Moray to contest a likely snap general election.
Laura Mitchell is understood to be the only nominee at present for the nationalist ticket.
And she has won the backing of former Moray MP and SNP leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson.
Ms Mitchell was formerly election agent for Mr Robertson and is currently constituency office manager for Moray MSP Richard Lochhead.
With Prime Minister Boris Johnson losing a crucial Brexit vote, he is seeking a general election on October 15 ahead of Brexit on October 31.
Conservative MP for Moray, Douglas Ross, backed Mr Johnson in the Tory leadership election.
Ms Mitchell said: "I'm delighted to have been nominated as potential SNP candidate for Moray.
"Moray is where I was born, raised and live, and where I hope to raise a family. I'm passionate about our communities and my number one priority is to make sure that our voice is heard loudly and clearly in Westminster.
"Over the last two years Moray has had a Member of Parliament who has voted against our interests and has put his careers ahead of his constituents - if I am elected that will change."
Ms Mitchell (31), was a pupil at Keith Grammar School before studying at university in Edinburgh. She moved back to Moray after graduating.
She was an SNP list candidate for the Highlands and Islands at the 2016 Holyrood election.
She vowed to "roll up my sleeves" and dedicate herself to working hard on behalf of all the people who live in Moray.
"Now more than ever we need an SNP MP who is fully committed to Moray, who will act in the interests of local businesses and communities. I promise that I will be Moray’s voice in Westminster not the other way around."
Mr Robertson, a former deputy leader of the party, has come out in support of Ms Mitchell to lead the fight for the SNP to regain the seat he lost to the Tories.
“Laura Mitchell will be an excellent SNP candidate and MP for Moray. She has huge experience of the issues that matter to people in Moray and will do everything that she can to protect jobs and the economy from a damaging no-deal Brexit.
"I know Laura to be extremely hard working and that she will give Moray her full-time commitment.
Ms Mitchell said: “I’m grateful to Angus for his support over the years I’ve known him and I hope to win back Moray for the SNP at the next general election.”
Mr Robertson has stepped away from frontline politics to focus on a media and diplomatic consultancy career.
He confirmed he will not be standing in the forthcoming Westminster election.
“I’m hugely honoured to have represented Moray for four terms and the best part of two decades and am appreciative for all the support and encouragement I have had over the years."
Now based in Edinburgh, he wants to spend as much time with his new baby daughter Saoirse, who was born in June, and wife Jennifer.
"The timing is not right for me or my family to run for public office at the moment," he added.
Mr Robertson now lives in the Edinburgh Central seat of Ruth Davidson, who stood down last week as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
There has been speculation that Mr Robertson will run in the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections in the Edinburgh Central seat.
Ms Davidson had a majority of only 610 at the last election and it is not clear if she will stand again at the next election.
