SNP confirms staffer to contest Lisa Cameron’s seat at next general election

The SNP has confirmed Grant Costello will contest the new East Kilbride and Strathaven seat for the party at the next general election.

The area is currently represented by Lisa Cameron, who announced a defection from the SNP to the Conservatives earlier today.

Costello was challenging Cameron for the seat and has now been confirmed as the official candidate.

It is believed this played a role in her decision to switch party.

Eight other candidates have also been confirmed by the SNP.

Alison Thewliss, who currently represents Glasgow Central, is to contest Glasgow North – the seat currently occupied by Patrick Grady, who was deselected after being censured for sexual misconduct. Glasgow Central is set to disappear under new constituency boundaries.

Other sitting MPs David Linden, Brendan O’Hara and Alyn Smith will have been reselected in their constituencies (though boundaries have changed slightly).

Iain Whyte, the former office manager of Anum Qaisar MP, will fight to retake Kenny Macaskill’s seat from Alba. Macaskill was elected as the SNP MP for the area before defecting in 2021.

Other confirmed candidates are:

• Seamus Logan – Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
• Graham Leadbitter – Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey
• Glen Reynolds – West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine