Meet the Kintyre and the Islands by-election candidates vying for your vote

Following the unexpected change in the council’s administration, I now feel there is a way forward to effect positive change. 

I am standing as an independent as I believe local authority councillors should work solely in the best interest of their constituents – not a political party. During my time as a Ward 1 councillor, I always advocated for my constituents and never conformed to toe a party line.  

During my 22-year record as a councillor, further to the extensive work I did for the South Kintyre community, I was also successful with the following, which benefitted Kintyre and the Islands and wider Argyll: 

• Presented three petitions to Scottish Parliament: 1) campaign against the closure of rural schools, leading to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, which set additional requirements which councils must consider when consulting on proposals to close designated rural schools; 2) for a full-time ferry between Campbeltown and the central mainland – this upped the profile of the need for this service and will hopefully bear fruit in the not-too-distant future; 3) led the campaign with Councillor Dougie Philand and the late Councillor John McAlpine, as members of Argyll First, for a permanent solution at A83 Rest and Be Thankful, instigating the trunking of the road between Kennacraig and Campbeltown and improvements works at Strone Point. Councillor Philand and I are still pursuing part of the petition, which remains live, to ensure a permanent solution is delivered.
• Led the successful Kintyre Kidney Dialysis campaign for the installation of the unit in Campbeltown Hospital.
• Campaigned to secure funding for the new Campbeltown Grammar School.
• Lobbied against MPAs and will continue to do so for any further proposals to protect our fishing industry.

If you would like a dependable and effective councillor with a proven track record of delivering for constituents, who always puts people before politics and will give 110 per cent commitment to your community, vote Kelly 1.  

Douglas Macdonald (Scottish Liberal Democrats) 

A resident of Kintyre for over six years and a former student of Dunoon Grammar School, I understand the community’s challenges and opportunities.

I joined the Royal Navy at 16, later gaining degrees in Maths and Physics and a PhD in astrophysics. I now work in technology.
 
Dedicated to Argyll and Bute, I take a keen interest in local issues, including community development, sustainable growth, and improved public services.

My focus is on tackling pressing issues that affect us all. Housing maintenance, trades and training are critical areas needing immediate attention. 

Many homes in our region require repairs and upgrades, and we must develop a skilled workforce to meet these demands. 

By investing in local skills and expertise, we can ensure well-maintained homes and create valuable employment opportunities.

As a frequent public transport user, relying on buses and often working from home, I am a strong advocate for maintaining reliable public transport and digital connectivity. The ferry fiasco and the solution to the Rest and Be Thankful must be tackled now.

I believe that we need to ensure that we maintain proper facilities in our rural communities such as doctors, dentists, nurses, teachers, carers, post office access and better digital technology. 

A passionate defender of our environment and coastal waters, I am a sea swimmer who volunteers with the Native Oyster restoration project. I swim in our local waters all year round.

I believe all voices in Kintyre and the Islands should be heard and urge residents to participate in the upcoming by-election. 

The recent passing of Councillor Robin Currie shocked me. Our community feels his loss. If elected, I will carry forward his legacy and that of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, ensuring continued support and dedication to our area.

Vote Douglas Macdonald 1 on July 18.

Alan McManus (Freedom Alliance)

The problem isn’t lack of goodwill – I’m sure everyone on Argyll and Bute Council and standing in the Kintyre and the Islands by-election has that in spades – it’s the courage to face the changing realities of Scotland. 

The recent publication of the Cass Report vindicated my party, Freedom Alliance, and other voices in Scotland raising concerns about rapid onset gender dysphoria and the mutilation of many of our young people. A growing number of whom bitterly regret their irreversible condition of lifelong scarring and sterility. 

Outrage over the scale of the Midazolam and opioid murders in Scottish care homes has added to the increasingly vociferous complaints from the vaccine injured – how many funerals have you gone to recently and how many were vaccinated? 

The bankruptcy of family farms, which I learned about while standing in the South Kintyre by-election, has now spread all over the country. 

Supporting a candidate in Bellshill, Glasgow, I spoke with a well-meaning MSP who had been a social worker in Drumchapel (both areas of multiple deprivation). She saw the campaign priorities as gender self-ID and net zero. 

In my home constituency of East Dunbartonshire, roads are reminiscent of the backwoods in Brazil where I taught English for years; but the council managed to find money to remove traffic lights and lower kerbs, despite massive public protest, especially from the blind, the elderly, people with reduced mobility, and concerned parents. 

In Ireland, small villages are flooded with virile single young men from North Africa. London has areas where women will not walk without a headscarf. 

I strongly support human rights, equality and civil liberties, but virtue is in the mean and excess is dangerous. 

I can see where things are going, I have the courage to say so and – as a teacher of RMPS, a freelance academic, student of law, proofreader and novelist – I can say it clearly. This beautiful, peaceful ward should not be allowed to turn into a chaotic crime-ridden ghetto where parents have their children removed if they object to their overt sexualisation in primary school. 

Vote for common sense on July 18!

Elizabeth Redman (Scottish Conservative and Unionist)

Having dedicated my entire working life to nursing, both on the mainland and on Islay, I have seen first-hand the unique challenges and strengths of our rural and island communities. 

My roles have ranged from an acute medical ward sister and nurse tutor to a practice nurse and hospital general nurse. This extensive experience has only deepened my love for our community and my desire to continue contributing to its wellbeing.

Our communities inherently understand how to protect and nurture our way of life. Local fishermen meticulously care for the sea’s livestock, farmers and crofters sustainably manage livestock and plant trees and hedges that complement our landscape, and roadside verges are left to grow for biodiversity. 

These practices demonstrate our commitment to caring for our land, seas, and infrastructure, honouring our heritage.

Health workers, teachers, and other professionals are dedicated to their roles. They don’t need radical change; they need support and fair financial compensation. 

Our rural communities require investment to sustain the high standards they have set. For instance, our roads department does an admirable job maintaining our infrastructure but desperately needs more investment and staff to address the deteriorating network. 

The education sector also requires staffing support and infrastructure investments. 

Community carers are critically underfunded and understaffed. To encourage more individuals to join these essential roles, we must provide support, decent pay, and proper appreciation.

We do not need overreaching legislation from central government to maintain our communities’ health and happiness. Instead, we need sensible financial commitments that preserve the good we already have and promote meaningful investment. 

We advocate for small-scale turbines that power villages and farms rather than a flood of large turbines across our beautiful hills. We need support for traditional rural practices, not legislation that hinders them. 

My goal is to keep Argyll and the Islands protected, productive, and ecologically sound.

I am not a career politician, instead I served my community as a nurse; I now want to do the same as your local councillor. 

If you want a strong local voice, please consider giving me your first preference vote on July 18.