LOCAL Conservative party members have chosen Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor as their candidate for Argyll and Bute at next year's Scottish Parliament election.
At a packed meeting in Inveraray, Mr McGrigor emerged the winner after what was described as "a closely argued run-off" against former list MSP Dave Petrie.
Immediately after his selection Jamie McGrigor said: "I am honoured to have been selec
ted as candidate for the next Scottish Election.
"As an experienced and long standing MSP for Highlands and Islands, I have a very good knowledge of Argyll and Bute and I fully understand the problems and opportunities facing the people living and working here.
"I am encouraged by the recent upswing in Conservative support, but my wish is to represent all of the people of Argyll and Bute as their elected MSP.
"It has always been my wish to win my home seat 'first past the post'. I look forward to meeting as many Argyll and Bute people as possible during what promises to be a vigorous and exciting campaign in these challenging times."
Next year's contest will be the second time Mr McGrigor has fought for the Holyrood seat of Argyll and Bute; in 2007 he came third behind the SNP's Jim Mather and defending Liberal Democrat George Lyon.
Mr McGrigor also came second in the fight to represent Argyll and Bute at Westminster in the 2005 UK election, losing out to the Lib Dems' sitting MP Alan Reid.
The Argyll and Bute constituency for the Scottish Parliament is slightly smaller than the one used in Westminster elections; the Holyrood version does not include the Helensburgh and Lomond portion of the Argyll and Bute Council area.
The Conservatives are thus the first of the major parties to choose their candidate for next year's poll, although the sitting MSP, Jim Mather of the SNP, has already announced that he will not be seeking re-election.
