KIRKCALDY man Roger Mullin has been chosen by Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath SNP to be their candidate to contest the seat in the May General Election.

Speaking after winning the ballot to become their candidate, Mr Mullin said, “This is a tremendous honour to be asked to contest the election in the area I have lived in for over 30 years.

“Our message will be a positive one: a vote for the SNP will strengthen Scotland’s voice in Westminster, and provide a better service to constituents locally.” Mr Mullin is an Honorary Professor at Stirling University’s Management School, where he teaches post-graduate students, and also conducts research and consultancy, related to further and higher education. He has undertaken 27 international assignments for United Nations agencies and a number of overseas governments, experiences he believes will be invaluable. Mr Mullin continued, “The SNP wants to see the maximum devolution of new powers to Scotland. But that is not all. We reject the austerity agenda of both the Tory and Labour parties, as a failed and inadequate response to modern economic challenges. “We also reject the idea that it is the poor and vulnerable who should be carrying the burden of cuts.

“We will be spelling out our alternatives in the coming weeks, carrying out a conversation with the people on the ground as we seek to build a better future for the people of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, and Scotland more generally” Mr Mullin is the first candidate to be declared for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat which also takes in Lochgelly, Benarty, Kelty, and Lumphinnans.

Labour will shortly be selecting their replacement for Gordon Brown, who announced before Christmas he was to stand down after representing the Cowden-Gelly area at Westminster for over 30 years.