Conservatives announce general election candidate

The Scottish Conservatives have picked their election candidate for the upcoming general election.

Orkney resident Jenny Fairbairn will fight the Northern Isles seat at next month’s election.

The retiree volunteers at the Salvation Army shop in Kirkwall, and was formerly a town councillor and mayor in Dunstable, along with being a district councillor in South Bedfordshire.

The 73-year-old grandmother has lived in Orkney for over 11 years, and chose to retire there after falling “in love with the islands” on a honeymoon with her husband Andy 50 years ago.

She said: “I want politics to focus on the issues that matter to people in our islands, but that won’t be able to happen while the other political parties are playing games on Brexit and on independence.

“Like many people, I am sick and tired of the shilly shallying around leaving the EU. I know there are some very strong views on both sides, but I think most people just want it sorted and the uncertainty to end.

“What worries me, and will worry a lot of people, is that Nicola Sturgeon has made it very clear that she’s willing to put Jeremy Corbyn into government, with the price being another independence referendum.

“With the Lib Dems not ruling out working with Corbyn, only the Scottish Conservatives stand against that nightmare Sturgeon/Corbyn pact and another vote on breaking up the UK.

“A vote for the Scottish Conservatives is a vote to get Brexit sorted, to say no to Nicola Sturgeon and her plans for another divisive referendum on independence and to get the focus back on the issues that most local folk worry about.”

Shetland Conservative and Unionist Association chairman Maurice Mullay added: “I am delighted Jenny has been chosen as our candidate.

“This election is a chance to end the uncertainty over Brexit by electing a government which will honour the result of the EU referendum, and only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives is a vote for a party committed to doing that.”

Four other candidates are also contesting the Northern Isles seat: Liberal Democrat incumbent Alistair Carmichael, Robert Leslie for the SNP, Scottish Labour’s Coilla Drake and independent David Barnard.

COMMENTS(38)

Add Your Comment
  • James J Paton

    • November 11th, 2019 15:10

    Dear Editor,

    And the Tories haven’t been playing games over Brexit re Hard and No Brexit Deal. then? Pot, kettle. It would be funny if it wasn’t true.

    I assume Orkney even voted Remain.

    The LibDems can’t be trusted not to go into coalition with the Tories, despite Temain rhetoric. Remember student fees and austerity.

    SNP at this time only sensible vote in O&S, despite their faults.

    REPLY
  • ian tinkler

    • November 11th, 2019 17:33

    James, just what does the SNP stand for? They despise the Liberals, they loathe the Tories, the denigrate and mock the Labour party. Clearly they have no truck with the UK population, they reject democratic referenda ( unless they like the results). Sorry but this is a party of absolute negativity. that is unless you like Nationalism, Socialism and the Salmond / Sturgeon outlook for Scotland!!!
    I find your comment, “SNP at this time only sensible vote in O&S, despite their faults.” quite extraordinary.

    REPLY
    • Peter Hamilton

      • November 12th, 2019 9:18

      Speaking of “absolute negativity”, has Ian read what he has written? Quite extraordinary.

      REPLY
  • Ian Tinkler

    • November 12th, 2019 12:11

    One tiny point Peter, I am not a political party laying down a manifesto!
    Now apart from stopping Brexit, stopping the Tories, stopping the Liberals, mocking Corbyn, Farage, and Johnson and all the usual scaremongering about Trump and the NHS has Sturgeon mentioned single positive policy to help the people of Scotland and the UK. Not a single one, just more decisive drivel about an Independance Referendum. We need that like a hole in the head but that is Nationalism for you.
    Incidentally, I do not regard the brain dead posturing about climate emergency and putting bonnie Scotland under concrete as a positive policy.

    REPLY
  • Peter Hamilton

    • November 12th, 2019 16:13

    Ian’s tiny point is a point of view I suppose, but is he any closer to understanding what type of nationalism Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP represents.
    Probably not and largely because he does not actually want to be.

    Whether he cares to appreciate it or not, however, not all nationalisms are the same. The SNP’s outlook is internationalist, civic and largely social democratic, which underpins their considerable appeal. And I say that as a Labour Party member. Contrast that with the mean spirited, narrow minded, inward and backward looking, wall building, xenophobic and all too frequently sexist, racist and homophobic nationalism offered up by large elements of the Trump backed Brexit Party-Tory coalition and the difference is plain for all but the most willfully partisan to see.

    Nice to see Ian again outing himself as a climate change skeptic/denier again though. Talk about brain dead posturing. He so likes the cut of the Tory candidate’s jib that he will do anything he can to distract attention away from consideration of her less than positive offering.

    REPLY
  • Malcolm Henry Johnson

    • November 13th, 2019 14:59

    When Jenny Fairbairn and Maurice Mullay write out their Xmas cards this year, I hope they don’t forget to send one to Jo Swinson. Such an omission would be truly ungrateful.

    https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2019/11/13/jo-swinsons-latest-power-games-give-boris-johnsons-hard-brexit-a-clear-run/

    REPLY
  • Mr ian Tinkler

    • November 13th, 2019 19:12

    Peter, I love it: ” however, not all nationalisms are the same. The SNP’s outlook is internationalist, civic and largely social democratic, which underpins their considerable appeal. And I say that as a Labour Party member.”
    Your loquacious verbosity has reached a new high. I bow my head to your comment, “Contrast that with the mean spirited, narrow minded, inward and backward looking, wall building, xenophobic and all too frequently sexist, racist and homophobic nationalism offered up by large elements of the Trump backed Brexit Party-Tory coalition”.
    Love you Peter, your even-handed comment is extraordinary. Just love it! xx. What a load of pretentious bull sh@t. The Labour party must love you! Perhaps the SNP a tad more!

    REPLY
  • Peter Hamilton

    • November 16th, 2019 13:36

    Do far right climate change deniers deserve evenhanded comment?

    REPLY
    • Ali Inkster

      • November 16th, 2019 20:31

      Who or what is far right? Since right wing politics want less government far right would be anarchists.
      Like most you will be claiming that hitler was far right but he was a socialist ie a totalitarian who believed in government control over pretty much everything just like Stalan, Mao and of course yourself Peter. It does not take long for totalitarianism which you espouse to decide to silence it’s detractors by whatever means.
      Political re education being a mild favourite which is soon followed by permanent silencing of dissenting voices.
      We can see for ourselves how totalitarian governments deal with dissenting voices on the news most weeks from the streets of Hong Kong and Paris. Oh wait the EU fanzene the BBC does not show the scenes from Paris for some reason. I wonder why cops beating/killing civilians in Hong Kong is deserving of condemnation but the same acts in Paris and Catalonia are met with silence?

      REPLY
  • Ian Tinkler

    • November 16th, 2019 18:49

    Peter,
    Just what is your problem? Who here has denied climate change? As far as I am aware the Tories have not, the liberals have not. I have not. I have 3000 trees and woody shrubs on my Croft, mostly planted by myself over 30 years. Now many trees and shrubs self-propagating.
    It is only the SNP that advocates covering Scotland with concrete. Their record speaks for itself. But never mind! Never forget Sturgeon was Salmond’s acolyte, scary pair!. They make your Labour party almost look liberal. Lower case l, please note.

    REPLY
  • Peter Hamilton

    • November 17th, 2019 12:37

    Plainly it is possible to join in a far-right orchestrated attack on Gretta Thunberg and like trees. Ian is trying to rewrite very recent history.

    As for Ali’s comments… not entirely sure I do espouse totalitarianism, or indeed merit his comparison with Hitler, Mao and Stalin. Like wow man, that’s pretty out there…!

    We can now take it as read that Ali has only got one conception of socialism, just as Ian only has one conception of nationalism. Don’t let facts get in the way of your painful to witness historical revisionism boys.

    These cheerful chappies should look up neo-liberalism and consider who funds the organisations which feed them their scary views, and why. The low tax paradise Ian, Ian, Farage and his pals in the AfD dream of won’t allow international action to address international problems, but it does deliver xenophobia, victim blaming and some pretty distorted perspectives.

    REPLY
    • Ali Inkster

      • November 19th, 2019 1:10

      So it’s the anarchists that are doing the organizing says Peter.
      Kinda goes against their belief system to organize anything.

      REPLY
      • Peter Hamilton

        • November 19th, 2019 16:54

        Libertarian Ali is taking liberties. Where did he get these anarchists from? Fairly sure I didn’t mention any.

    • Ali Inkster

      • November 19th, 2019 1:14

      It’s not me that has only one one concept of socialism but those that practice it, that’s what we need to worry about.
      You know the sort of people that think their opinion should carry more weight than the majority vote.

      REPLY
      • Peter Hamilton

        • November 19th, 2019 17:16

        Looks like Ali believes the majority view can be mistaken after all. As he wrote but days ago: “Like most you will be claiming that hitler was far right but he was a socialist “. So he is definitely thinking most people are wrong on that point.

        And he is still wrong on there only being one type of socialist.

        Democratic socialists believe voters should have the chance to kick them out of power, but they can and have delivered long-lasting gains such as the minimum wage and the NHS.

        Under state socialism, such as under Stalin, self-proclaimed socialists take and keep full control. It is plainly a different thing to democratic socialism.

        Hitler’s National Socialists violently opposed democratic socialists, communists and everyone between, ergo not actually socialists. Hitler’s thinking didn’t track back to Marx, Engles or even Tolstoy.

        There is little point in contesting anything with libertarian Ali when he takes such liberties with the meaning of words. Does he even believe in general taxation for common services like health and education, or is that totalitarianism too?

        Ali has been pretty unrestrained of late. Just how free does he want to be? There is always room on Forvik.

      • Ali Inkster

        • November 25th, 2019 20:52

        Maybe instead of me being exiled to Forvik as peter wants, maybe Peter should try a teaching exchange to Hong Kong, I bet his BS will go down a treat with students who have the misfortune to know socialism first hand.

  • ian Tinkler

    • November 19th, 2019 15:07

    I have no problem with Greta, Peter. She is a fantastic example of how people can be manipulated by others. A lot of misplaced conviction, a lack of basic science and there you go. Stand up and bleat long and load and wait for the sheep to fall in behind. Anyway, things are looking up for her. Another sailing trip home on a super expensive sailboat. This one even has a loo! Nice work if you can get it.

    REPLY
    • John Thomas

      • November 22nd, 2019 14:54

      Really Ian, ‘She is a fantastic example of how people can be manipulated by others. A lot of misplaced conviction, a lack of basic science’

      Here you will find thousands of documents referring to countless peer reviewed articles from the best scientists in the world, with research going back decades, all pointing to the same thing – Greta is right.
      https://unfccc.int/documents

      But of course – your dental training trumps all that. You know best Ian. Bravo.

      REPLY
      • Ali Inkster

        • November 25th, 2019 20:56

        “Here you will find thousands of documents referring to countless peer reviewed articles from the best scientists in the world, with research going back decades, all pointing to the same thing”
        Yet with all that experts beavering away not one of the forecasts have been anywhere near the mark, and still they want us to believe the next pile of BS they produce

      • Ian Tinkler

        • November 26th, 2019 8:47

        John Thomas, I have never made comment on whether Greta is right or wrong, just an exploited PR figurehead!
        My comment below seems relevant to yourself, (November 21st, 2019), ” I have never questioned a word about the actuality of climate change. What I have questioned is the moronic activity of the antics of “Extinction Rebellion”, various ignorant politicians, especially some SIC and the SG/SNP, with utter witlessness of the basic science.” For example, The SNPs latest foolishness, maximal profit from exploitation the North Sea Fossil fuels to finance Renewable initiatives (£1 billion set aside. Sturgeon 2019)!”

      • John Thomas

        • November 28th, 2019 12:22

        “Yet with all that experts beavering away not one of the forecasts have been anywhere near the mark, and still they want us to believe the next pile of BS they produce”

        Yes Ali, apart from all of these comparisons of real obervations vs. predictions
        http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/climate-model-projections-compared-to-observations/

        Please show me the peer reviewed studies you are referencing that show otherwise. Oh wait. There are none. Maybe you can find something that confirms your beliefs on Breitbart though? I’m not the one peddling BS here…

  • Peter Hamilton

    • November 20th, 2019 18:01

    There is one science lesson Ian Tinkler can learn from Greta Thunberg.

    “The science has been unambiguous since the late 1980s: the Earth is warming, humans are the cause, and the only way to combat this is through large-scale action taken by our world’s governments. The largest contributors to the causes of climate change — the addition of greenhouse gases to our planet’s atmosphere — come from just a few dozen corporations. In particular, 71% of all the emissions from 1980 to 2015 come from just 100 companies, practically all of which are fossil fuel producers.”

    This quote comes a scientist explaining how robust the scientific consensus on the climate is, and that we can rely on it. A scientific consensus is quite a different thing from a political consensus. https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/09/26/the-one-science-lesson-every-american-adult-can-learn-from-greta-thunberg/#2f0114a16870

    There’s big money behind climate-change denial, so it is little surprise that dependable Ian’s understanding continues to be manipulated.

    Ian’s yet to explain how his “basic science” undermines the reliable scientific consensus that there is a big and urgent human-made climate problem. Before trying perhaps he should first attempt to understand how robust the scientific consensus is. This may help fantastic Ian to accept he’s been willingly had.

    REPLY
    • Michael Garriock

      • November 22nd, 2019 18:58

      I just love it how commenters on ‘climate change’ seem to always start off by assuming everybody agrees that regardless what constitutes ‘climate change’ this week, it’s somehow a ‘bad’ and ‘negative’ thing that must be stopped at almost any cost.

      Of all the incarnations of predicted impending ‘doom’ that has been put forth over the last couple of decades or so on the subject, I’ve yet to find one that in my opinion was entirely ‘bad’ through and through. Yes, in every scenario their will be perceived ‘losers’, but their will be winners too, right across the populations of all species on the globe, just as there have been perceived ‘losers’ and winners across the populations of all species on the globe in the past and in the present whatever the ‘climate’ has done.

      The only constant is change itself, and it is only those who fear change who are subscribing to the current wave of ‘we’re all doomed’ paranoia that’s been born out of some kind of manufactured mass hysteria guilt complex.

      REPLY
      • Peter Hamilton

        • November 24th, 2019 14:27

        No ‘Michael’. This scale of change is unprecedented and the ‘climate’ is a real thing, as is the threat to it and us.

        Won’t be a problem though if we Get Brexit Done.

        Seriously though, how can there be winners in a species when the entire species is wiped out ? Who is winning when the number of species facing extinction increases exponentially ? What will that victory bring?

        Surely increasing rates of species loss due to climate damage is a ‘bad’ thing in anyones ‘opinon’.

  • Ian Tinkler

    • November 21st, 2019 9:18

    Thank you for that, Peter Hamilton. I have never questioned a word about the actuality of climate change. What I have questioned is the moronic activity of the antics of “Extinction Rebellion”, various ignorant politicians and people like yourself, with utter witlessness of the basic science.
    These political posturers, such as Sturgeon and Salmond so exploit peoples fears for political gain, nothing more. Just what does such nonsense as “Powerhouse Scotland” and a declaration of “Climate emergency” achieve, nothing whatsoever.
    All these idiots do is discredit the legitimate Science. The SNPs latest foolishness, maximal profit from exploitation the North Sea Fossil fuels to finance Renewable initiatives (£1 billion set aside. Sturgeon 2019)! That is as daft as Shetland not using its own natural gas, but exporting it for others to burn. Heaven help us all, it would be hard to make that up, so very, very stupid!!
    Concerning Greta, I admire her fortitude and courage but despise those people so driving her. I genuinely fear for her. She is a vulnerable youngster with genuine and real psychological problems. Greta is being so very exploited, by parents and politicians alike. I just hope she is not damaged in the process!

    REPLY
  • Brian Smith

    • November 21st, 2019 15:58

    I am waiting patiently for the local candidates to say something about something.

    REPLY
    • Malcolm Henry Johnson

      • November 21st, 2019 21:55

      I think there’s a reason for the silence Brian.

      For the last forty years, politicians have harped on and on about the devastating effects of Thatcherism. Now, at last, we have the chance to vote for a manifesto that completely reverses the key changes that Thatcher made. We are being offered the chance to re-build the unions and re-nationalise the major utilities that Thatcher privatised.

      The problem is that none of today’s politicians want to reverse any of the changes that Thatcher made. Right now, they are all preparing their responses to this opportunity and it will take the form of statements like “The argument has moved on since then,” “Nationalisation is no longer relevant,” “That’s an outdated concept of socialism,” and “None of this would be relevant if we were independent.” All of these statements are, in fact, ways of saying that Thatcher was right but was just unpopular because she was ahead of her time.

      Apparently, We’re a’ Jock Tamson’s bairns. Bollocks! Today’s “radical” politicians hav a’ become Margaret Thatcher’s bairns.

      Oh look! I see some Global Warming over there. Let’s change the subject.

      Expect the silence to continue.

      REPLY
      • Ian TInkler

        • November 27th, 2019 9:16

        Thank God for Thatcher, she saved us from the spectre “Secretary Scargill” and his underling Corbyn. Secretary of racial affairs with the special responsibility of all matters religious and ethnic.

  • Brian Smith

    • November 21st, 2019 16:20

    John Tulloch in the Shetland News, 6 September 2019:
    ‘This time [the SNP] will face the vastly experienced political heavyweight, Alistair Carmichael …’

    http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/tom-swarbrick/lib-dems-suffer-second-car-crash-lbc-interview

    REPLY
  • John Tulloch

    • November 22nd, 2019 15:12

    Touche, Brian! 🙂

    I think the description of that as a “car crash” must be the first understatement of this election. Diane Abbott may be about to lose her place in the Guinness Book of Records!

    Mr Carmichael is, of course, a very prominent LibDem. One of their most experienced MPs, he has campaigned relentlessly to overthrow the “People’s Vote” of 2016, on the basis that MPs know better than voters what is good for them. I’m not so sure about that. What do you think, Brian?

    Funny, too, that Shetland SNP isn’t campaigning, this time? It’s a bit of a let-down for Nicola Sturgeon and all the SNP MSPs who trouped north in September to support Tom Wills’s euphoric by-election campaign. They invested so much effort and money – £100,000!

    Now Tom is the local convener and they are doing nothing. I’m sure it’s nothing to do with Orkney SNP winning control of the candidacy, this time?

    REPLY
    • Allen Fraser

      • November 25th, 2019 8:42

      If the SNP had invested £100,000 in the MRI scanner appeal instead of littering Shetland with posters they would have gained more votes.

      REPLY
      • Ian Tinkler

        • November 26th, 2019 8:52

        Allen, they were all reusable. We may have tee pleasure of the littering again, perhaps a bit of festive SNP tinsel added!!! They can leave the Wills bit up; all the SNP clones are the same

    • Stuart Hannay

      • November 25th, 2019 11:22

      Oh, I think Jacob Rees-Mogg is currently holding the mantle for car crash interviews following his comments about the deaths at Grenfell Tower.

      REPLY
      • Ian Tinkler

        • November 26th, 2019 8:53

        No Corbyn on racism takes the prise.

    • Brian Smith

      • November 25th, 2019 18:49

      Did anyone see the interview between Susanna Reid and Nicky Morgan about the Tories’ 50,000 nurses! All is forgiven, Alistair …

      REPLY
    • John Tulloch

      • November 26th, 2019 11:12

      As we are all proffering nominations for ‘Car Wreck Interview of the Year’, how about Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘head on-er’ with that ‘brick wall’ of interviewing, Andrew Neil, last evening?

      At last someone has taken her to task over her party’s vacuous EU/Brexit policy, exposing it for the lie that it is.

      Readers of my ST ‘Sounding Off’ article (15 March 2019) and subsequent letters (29 March and 5 April) may have found the points made by Mr Neil’s familiar.

      REPLY
  • Mr ian Tinkler

    • November 26th, 2019 20:31

    “The SNP argued there was no “substantial untruth” in the leaflet, but Lord Pentland said a statement on it was false in substance, materially inaccurate and defamatory.” Go to it SNP, and you call Boris dishonest! I will vote liberal, plenty I disagree with but at least honest. Unlike the SNP!!! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50565209

    REPLY

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