MSP McMillan Confirms He Is Seeking To Stand Again For SNP
GREENOCK and Inverclyde SNP MSP, Stuart McMillan has confirmed he will be seeking re-selection to again become the SNP candidate for the Scottish Parliamentary election in 2021.
Mr. McMillan was first elected as a West of Scotland Regional MSP in 2007 and then again in 2011.
He won the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency for the SNP in 2016 with nearly 54 per cent of the vote and a majority of 8,230.
He has been an SNP member for 28 years, grew up and was educated in Port Glasgow, has lived in Greenock and now lives in Inverkip.
Mr McMillan stated: “I am pleased to announce my campaign to once again become the SNP candidate for the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency. I have a long history in the party, campaigning to turn Inverclyde into a strong SNP supporting area and helping the drive towards independence.
“I grew up in a scheme in Port Glasgow, the son of a coppersmith and an auxiliary nurse and was the first family member to attend university. I studied in France, Germany and Sweden and fully support an independent Scotland re-joining the European Union. This will allow many more of my constituents to have the ease of opportunity to study across Europe once again.
“In every election, I have increased the SNP vote. In 2003, the party locally obtained 14.5 per cent of the vote. When I first stood for Holyrood in 2007, I increased that to more than 30 per cent, more than 40 per cent in 2011 and won with more than 53 per cent in 2016. I have a strong track record of delivering for the SNP.
“My community faces many challenges and Brexit will make our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic even harder, so we need to give the Scottish people and the Scottish Government the best possible chance of doing this, without one hand tied behind our back.
“I have been at the forefront locally trying to support my constituents and help deliver better life chances and outcomes for all.
“I have led on campaigns to increase tourism to the area, increase the number of defibrillators locally, worked with business to improve local transport networks, brought government ministers to the area to listen to local people and stood shoulder to shoulder with workers at Ferguson Marine to save the yard.”
He added: “Inverclyde has many challenges, and while I believe there have been areas of progress over the past few years, there is still much to do. It’s therefore imperative that the SNP win control of the local authority in 2022 and winning the Scottish Parliamentary Election in 2021 gives us the platform to achieve that.
“A few months ago, I was invited to become a member of the First Minister’s Social Justice Commission because of some of the economic and social challenges facing Inverclyde. The work of the commission is aimed at providing a routemap to achieving a more equitable independent Scotland and that strategic view can only be a positive for Inverclyde.
“I have also brought forward a Member’s Bill to the Scottish Parliament to recover costs for the NHS relating to industrial diseases. Asbestos and industrial diseases have blighted many people in my community as well as across Scotland. Without a doubt, the industrial diseases some people in my constituency have will be a factor in the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have an excellent team in my office and much of the work we undertake happens without any fanfare. Dealing with constituents’ issues is of huge importance and is the bread and butter of any elected Parliamentarian.
“Over the coming weeks I will welcome the opportunity to discuss my track record with branch members and also my ambitions for the constituency and for Scotland.”
Local councillor Chris McEleny is also seeking to be the SNP candidate.
