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Lamont rises from shock waves as Tory favourite to challenge Moore
SHOCK waves are engulfing the local Conservative Party after Chris Walker, its candidate for the Westminster seat in the Borders, unexpectedly quit nearly two years after he was adopted.
The 45-year-old, who runs a hotel in Kirkcudbright on the Solway coast, claimed in a press release his decision was because of “work commitments”.
But he told TheSouthern this week he had been asked by party bosses to move to the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (BRS) constituency in the run-up to the General Election, which most pundits believe will take place in June next year, at which he hoped to wrest the seat from the Lib Dem’s Michael Moore.
“I was given a weekend to chew it over and reluctantly made my decision to put my business and family commitments first and stand down,” said Mr Walker, a former television chef.
“This has come as a great shock, but we are unshaken in our belief the seat is there to be won,” said John Greenwell, chairman of the constituency Conservative Association, who revealed the process of appointing a successor was already under way.
A deadline of August 10 has been set for those on an approved list of hopefuls to come forward, with selection due to take place at a meeting in the central Borders, at a venue still to be arranged, on August 16. Each party member attending will have the right to vote.
Given that Mr Walker was asked to move to the area, a clear favourite has emerged as his successor. He is Duns-based John Lamont, a former lawyer and son of a Borders farmer, who was elected MSP for the Scottish parliamentary seat of Roxburgh and Berwickshire in 2007, turning a deficit of 2,490 (in 2003) into a majority of almost 2,000 in ousting Lib Dem Euan Robson.
Mr Lamont revealed yesterday he was throwing his hat into the ring to replace Mr Walker.
“I will be applying to be the Westminster candidate, but obviously it is for local party members to decide and I am taking nothing for granted,” said Mr Lamont. “I, too, am shocked to hear about what has happened to Chris who was an excellent candidate, but I respect his decision and we must move on with our confidence undiminished.”
Mr Lamont said that, if selected and then elected as an MP next year, he would not immediately resign as an MSP, but would not seek re-election to Holyrood in 2011.
“If elected to Westminster, I would not stand down as an MSP because a by-election would be an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer. However, unlike Alex Salmond, we do not believe in the dual role of MP and MSP and I would stand down at the next Holyrood elections which could be a period of just 11 months.”
In Westminster terms, the Borders has remained steadfastly Lib Dem since 1965 when David Steel won in what was Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles. Only in 2005, did the Tories regain a foothold in the north-west of the region when David Mundell took the new seat of Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
Mr Walker, who is married with a 12-year-old daughter, shares the upbeat view of Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie who has named BRS as one of eight target Westminster seats for her party to win in Scotland.
“The tectonic plates of the political landscape have changed greatly since I was adopted,” said Mr Walker.
“Apart from the Euro elections, at which we trounced the Lib Dems in the Borders, we have had the MPs’ expenses scandal from which our leader David Cameron has emerged with most credit.
“I admit it came as a shock to me when I was basically asked to commit or demit, but I understand where the party is coming from because the seat in the Borders is definitely more winnable than when I was adopted. It is just not my time.”
Mr Moore said he did not wish to comment on the internal affairs of the Conservative party.
“Chris Walker was a thoroughly decent and straightforward man and I wish him all the best, but I will be standing on my record on behalf of the Borders and my party’s commitment to parliamentary reform,” said Mr Moore.
SNP candidate Paul Wheelhouse told us: “Obviously, on the political front, it creates disarray for the Tories and an opportunity for the SNP to build upon our excellent canvass returns across the constituency and recent election results.
“For the moment at least, it is genuinely a two-horse race between ourselves and the Lib Dems.
“Politics can be a rough business and I know from personal experience it can consume pretty much every spare hour you have, which makes balancing work, family and politics difficult.”
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Weather for Galashiels
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
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Wind direction: North east
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