FORFAR AND KIRRIE SPLIT BY BOUNDARY CHANGES
BOUNDARY changes coming into force for next year's Scottish Government elections will mean Forfar and Kirriemuir will be in different constituencies.
The changes have been maded by the Boundary Commission for Scotland ahead of the elections in May 2011.
This has resulted in the current North Tayside constituency - represented since 1999 by John Swinney MSP - being split in three ways.
Brechin and Forfar have been placed in a new Angus North and the Mearns seat, Kirriemuir, Glamis, Newtyle and the Glens have been placed in the Angus South seat, and the majority of North Tayside will go into the Perthshire North constituency.
As a consequence, John Swinney has been forced to make a decision to contest one of the three parts of his current constituency at the next election.
Mr Swinney has opted to contest the largest part of the North Tayside constituency which goes into the Perthshire North seat an, on Sunday, was chosen as the SNP candidate for that area.
As a result Mr Swinney will not be the SNP candidate in the Angus areas of his North Tayside constituency at the next election.
"I have made clear how much I am opposed to the changes to parliamentary constituencies being forced upon us by the Boundary Commission for Scotland.," commented John Swinney.
"This process of continual change just causes confusion amongst the electorate.
"Over the last 21 years I have been proud to have been the SNP candidate in North Tayside and to have built up strong bonds with members of the public and with communities throughout the seat.
"As a result of the Boundary Commission plans, I have been forced to choose which part of my current constituency I will contest.
"This has been a very difficult decision, made more difficult by the great experience I have had in representing all of the communities since 1997.
"I have opted to stand for election in the largest area that remains of my current seat, and that is in Perthshire North.
"I very much regret the fact that I will not be able to stand in Angus and I hope local residents understand this is a difficult decision that has been forced upon me.
"I will, of course, continue to represent the people of Forfar, Brechin, Kirriemuir and the surrounding areas in Angus within the Scottish Parliament right up until the elections in May 2011 as faithfully as I have done since 1997.
"And I would want to place on record my deep thanks to my constituents in Angus who have supported me so strongly during these years.
"SNP candidates will shortly be chosen to stand for election in Angus South and Angus North and Mearns and they will have my full support and endorsement in seeking to win the confidence of the people of Angus."
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
