The Liberal Democrats have had a 30-year relationship with North East Fife.
Trust was shattered, however, when the SNP stole the hearts of its constituents and returned Stephen Gethins as the successor to former UK Liberal leader Sir Menzies Campbell.
Heartbreak was soothed somewhat by Scottish Lib Dem boss Willie Rennie reclaiming the Holyrood seat last year and now the party hopes the seat has returned home after a brief, forgivable, affair.
They hope that candidate Elizabeth Riches, a councillor in the East Neuk for 27 years, will bring a local touch to proceedings.
The problem for the Libs is it’s not just the SNP they are fighting.
Tory candidate Tony Miklinski is no stranger to electoral success having more than doubled the Conservative first preference votes to be elected as a Cupar councillor in the recent local elections.
SNP candidates across Scotland are looking over their shoulder nervously at the Conservatives.
Not so Gethins, who will hope there is just enough of a Tory revival across the constituency to split the Unionist vote without overtaking him.
As the SNP’s Europe spokesman, he has a reasonably high profile and will be banking on his work speaking up for the likes of St Andrews University ahead of Brexit negotiations not going unnoticed.
A three-horse race that’s not worth the risk at the bookies’, this is the most interesting election contest in Scotland, even if the central belt has largely forgotten about it.
The candidates
Rosalind Garton (Labour)
“As the Labour candidate for North East Fife I am campaigning on local issues within a united UK.
“North East Fife has the largest number of employees in Scotland earning less than the Living Wage. Thus, Labour’s pledge to raise the minimum wage to £10 per hour, and its promise to ban zero hours contracts and unpaid internships, will be of direct benefit, especially to young people.
“In addition, Labour’s commitment to introduce rent control and to improve tenants’ rights, means that housing conditions will improve. If the SNP, in control of housing policy in Scotland, do not follow suit, this will make Scotland the part of the UK with the highest rents and the least security of tenure.”
Stephen Gethins (SNP)
”This Parliament will be crucial making big decisions that affect us all, not least pensions, tax, resources for public services and our future relationship with Europe. This will have a big impact on us all in North East Fife and am asking for your support to continue with our work to provide a strong voice at Westminster.
“We know there is a challenge from the Tories. However, the SNP has been the ‘effective opposition’ at Westminster. We need that strong voice now more than ever. I am asking for your support to continue the work I started two years ago.”
Tony Miklinski (Conservative)
“The SNP would dismantle our precious Union, leaving Scotland hopelessly divided, isolated and stony broke for generations to come.
“A second independence referendum isn’t justified or wanted and the only party that has consistently and absolutely declared against the SNP is the Scottish Conservatives under Ruth Davidson.
“Brexit brings risks and opportunities, but it’s too late to change direction; the only way forward is to send a resolute, capable leader with a strong electoral mandate into the Brexit negotiations, and achieve what is best for Britain.
“You have a choice. A bizarre coalition of Nicola Sturgeon, Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron; or Theresa May. Vote for Tony Miklinski.”
Elizabeth Riches (Liberal Democrat)
Elizabeth has represented the East Neuk for 27 years area as a regional, district and Fife councillor. She was leader of the opposition (1997-2007) and then depute leader of the council for five years (2007 – 2012). She has been a biology teacher and ran her own horticulture business.
She said: “I want to be the Member of Parliament for North East Fife so that I can stand up in Westminster for our area. North East Fife deserves a representative who will put the needs of the local area first. Local people rejected independence by a large margin and should have an MP who can speak for them. Scottish independence is not in the interests of the academic, fishing, farming and tourism sectors.”
Mike Scott-Hayward (Independent Sovereign Democratic Britain)
Mike Scott-Hayward says he has been wholly consistent in his support both for the integrity of the United Kingdom and for British Sovereignty and the British People have now voted precisely for that.
Mike says: ‘The Parliament to which I aspire, and Holyrood, will now control all our business rules, employment, health and safety, social policies etc. Constituents should have an MP who supports that in full – not one bent on disrupting the progress of the UK.
“Independent, I will not be a whipped party poodle. I will seek to discover and apply the views of my constituents. I will be your MP.”
