 | 'The last 10 days have been difficult for us all in the SNP, but we now have to get on with the task of fighting a by-election and keeping the anti-Scottish Tories from winning Moray.' Richard Lochhead MSP, 2 nd April 2006. |  |
| 'The last 10 days have been difficult for us all in the SNP, but we now have to get on with the task of fighting a by-election and keeping the anti-Scottish Tories from winning Moray.' Richard Lochhead MSP, 2 nd April 2006. | |
The Scottish National Party has played down speculation that it is struggling to find a new north-east MSP to replace Richard Lochhead, who was yesterday officially adopted as the party's candidate for the upcoming Moray by-election.
Mr Lochhead, 36, was endorsed by fellow members as the sole nominee to fight for the Moray seat.
The by-election, which will be held on April 27, was called following the death of the SNP's Margaret Ewing last month.
Mr Lochhead is currently the party's north-east list MSP and will resign his seat before the end of this week.
The party is now arranging for a candidate to fill the parliamentary seat vacated by Mr Lochhead.
No one has been officially named to step in, but it is understood party leaders are considering a number of possible candidates.
And yesterday a spokesman for the party dismissed reports that nobody within the SNP was willing to take up the post.
Mr Lochhead was the sole list MSP in the north-east for the SNP. When he quits, the next in line is expected to step in.
With numbers two and three - Aberdeen North MSP Brian Adam and Shona Robison, representing Dundee East - already in Holyrood, the seat will be offered to party secretary Alasdair Allan.
But Mr Allan is expected to be revealed as the party's candidate for the Western Isles this week.
The job could then go to Aberdeen SNP activist Maureen Watt, or former MSP Irene McGugan. Angus councillor Ian Angus is also on the SNP's list.
A party spokesman said: "We have yet to name a candidate, simply because the seat has not been vacated yet.
"We hope to make an official announcement this week after Mr Lochhead formally resigns his seat."
Mr Lochhead declined to speak about his possible replacement, but said he was delighted to be given the chance to follow in Ms Ewing's footsteps.
"It would be foolish for any candidate to pretend they can fill her shoes," he said after last night's adoption meeting in Elgin's Laichmoray Hotel.
"She was a special politician with special qualities. I had the privilege of serving alongside Margaret in our parliament for the last seven years and I'll miss her dearly."
He added: "The last 10 days have been difficult for us all in the SNP, but we now have to get on with the task of fighting a by-election and keeping the anti-Scottish Tories from winning Moray."
Mr Lochhead described Moray as the vanguard of the independence movement.
He will be opposed by Mary Scanlon for the Conservatives and Linda Gorn for the Liberal Democrats.
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