THE Liberal Democrats have unveiled their candidate for the most marginal Westminster seat in Scotland.
Councillor Susan Murray will attempt to retake East Dunbartonshire from the SNP at the next general election, which is expected in 2024.
The seat was previously held by UK Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, but she lost it to the SNP’s Amy Callaghan in 2019 after pitching herself as a future Prime Minister.
Ms Swinson saw her 5,339-vote majority become an SNP majority of 149.
The third most marginal seat in the UK at the last general election, the well-heeled suburb north of Glasgow has changed hands often in recent years.
Ms Swinson won it in 2005 and held it until the SNP’s John Nicolson won in 2015, only for Ms Swinson to win it back in the snap election of 2017, before losing it again two years later.
After May’s local elections, the Liberal Democrats are the second largest party on SNP-run East Dunbartionshire Council.
Cllr Murray, 65, who represents Kirkintilloch East and North and Twechar, was formerly the European marketing director for an international medical device company.
During the pandemic, she helped set up Community Response in East Dunbartonshire (CRED), a charity delivering shopping, prescriptions and helped vulnerable people.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Susan isn't a typical politician - she has real life experience she can use to get the best for local people.
“The SNP have been awful for Scotland. Their obsession with independence has distracted them from the challenges people are facing every day like long waits for GP appointments, the cost-of-living crisis and the disruption on our railways.
“Meanwhile the Conservatives are reduced to making excuses for a Prime Minister who partied while women gave birth alone and people said goodbye to their loved ones by video call.
"In this ultra-marginal seat a vote for Susan will send a message that it is time for a change.”
Cllr Murray said: “East Dunbartonshire needs a local champion, not just another SNP politician obsessed with independence.
“Through my charity work and my time as a local councillor I have shown that I will always put East Dunbartonshire first. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into campaigning once again.”
During the pandemic, she helped set up Community Response in East Dunbartonshire (CRED), a charity delivering shopping and prescriptions to vulnerable people.
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