ALL of Scotland’s main political parties have started looking for candidates for the European elections in case of a long delay to Brexit.
The poll is due to take place on May 23, with six MEPs elected from Scotland using a party list system in which only the top ranked candidates stand any chance of election.
At the EU election in 2014, the SNP and Labour returned two MEPs each, and the Tories and Ukip one each.
The SNP has already opened applications for candidates, with current MEPs Alyn Smith and Ian Hudghton standing for re-election.
The party’s ruling executive will produce a shortlist of six, and ask delegates to the party’s spring conference to rank them in order of preference.
Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny, an advocate of an early independence vote who stood in the last two deputy leadership contests, has thrown his hat in the ring, as has Mr Smith’s chief of staff Laura Rayner, who is tipped as a rising star.
Former minister Aileen MacLeod is also understood to be interested.
Labour incumbent David Martin is set to stand for re-election, with a winnable vacancy opening up following the resignation earlier this year of his colleague Catherine Stihler.
Labour is due to open applications on Friday, with a joint panel of the National and Scottish executive committees deciding who will fill the other five candidate positions.
It will be a ‘zipped’ list, with alternating male and female candidates.
Baroness Nosheena Mobarik is expected to stand again for the Scottish Tories, with perennial hopeful Iain McGill ranked second on the list, as he stood for the party in 2014.
Applications for the other four slots are being sought for Friday, with the party’s management board producing the final list next week.
The surprise winner of 2014 was Ukip’s David Coburn, who was elected with 10.5 per cent of the vote, denying the SNP a third seat and deposing LibDem MEP George Lyon.
However Mr Coburn left Ukip in December over its drift to the far right.
He told the Herald he still hoped Brexit would happen before May 23, and was undecided about whether to stand for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.
He said: “I haven’t given it a lot of thought. I was rather hoping to return to civilisation. I’ve packed my boxes.”
The LibDems are picking from a dozen candidates, with the top spot reserved for a woman.
Party convenor Sheila Ritchie, who missed out on becoming the MP for North East Fife in 2017 by two votes, and Borders councillor Catriona Bhatia, daughter of former party leader Sir David Steel, have applied.
Only the person ranked first by party members has a credible chance of election.
John Edward, head of the Remain and People’s Vote campaigns in Scotland, and advocate Fred Mackintosh, have also applied.
The LibDems held a hustings last night in Edinburgh, and the final selection is due next week after a paper ballot.
The Scottish Greens held their first hustings at last week’s conference. Members will choose from 14 candidates, with half the six places, including the top slot, reserved for women.
Party co-convenor Maggie Chapman is seen as the clear favourite.
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