Election in Invergordon

This weeks 'Special Report' by Highlander Web Magazine's John Boocock

A fortnight ago the Highland town of Invergordon awoke to the news that its long serving councillor, Isobel Rhind had died. She had died whilst travelling on the overnight sleeper from Inverness to London. Her health had been failing for some time and her diabetes was not helping things.

For 32 years the town continued to support Mrs Rhind first as its representative on the old Ross-shire County Council and then as both Ross and Cromarty District and Highland Region councillor. Last April she was safely elected to the latest embodiment of local government, The Highland Council.

A formidable power in the cut and thrust of the Council Chamber, Mrs Rhind was affectionately known as either Ma Rhind or Mrs Invergordon. As she worked tirelessly for her town, she quite often got right up the noses of some folk, others would walk on hot coals for her.

So Invergordon saw Isobel off last Friday, the traffic was held up from Invergordon to Kilmuir where she was laid to rest and the town turned it's attention to the forthcoming bye election. First news of potential candidates came in the form of a hint from Mrs Rhind's son, Alistair, that he was considering taking on his mother's mantle.

Highland politics is a strange beast. Many councillors are elected as independents with no stated allegiance to any political party. More recently, however, more people are being elected on a political ticket. Nowhere is this more strange than in Highlanders choice of MPs. A massive parliamentary majority for a Liberal Democrat MP is rarely matched in the council chamber. Add to this the impending UK general election and there's the chance of an interesting event taking place here 650 miles North of Westminster on the banks of the Cromarty Firth.

For five years Alaister had represented his home town of Tain on the Highland Region Council (as an independent just like his mother) only to fail miserably when attempting to get elected to the new Highland Council. Following the decision of the good electors of Tain not to support him, he effectively took his bat and ball home, even refusing to continue watering the town's flower basket's, a job he had carried out with gusto when councillor.

Hot on the heels of Alistair's revelation that he might stand the Scottish Labour Party announced a candidate. Julia Nelson a 43 year old childcare development worker was the choice of the easter Ross Branch of the party. Julia had previously lived in Invergordon, her daughter is at school there and Julia had worked with a number of local groups and organisations before taking on her present post.

What the announcement didn't say, but what everyone understood was that The Scottish Labour Party was going to put its all into this election. Just over the Kessock Bridge the socialists are pulling out all the stops to get Dave Stewart elected in the only truly four way marginal seat in the UK. This was confirmed a few days later when the press were told that Glenda Jackson MP, would be visiting the Highlands during the campaign. Glenda Jackson is a famous actress turned politician. Donnie Munro, leader of top Scottish band Runrig would also be lending support to the party's cause.

Although council officials noted a lively trade in nomination forms for the election there was still no word from the Scottish Nationalist Party who had come a creditable second in the April 95 Highland Election. Rumours abound around the town that the previous SNP candidate had "gone away for the weekend" thus ensuring that he would not be nominated for the task of carrying the Nationalist banner at the election.

Nominations close at 4pm on Tuesday 4th June. The campaigning starts in earnest the following weekend leading up to the all important voting on June 27th. We'll keep you informed of progress in future issues of Highlander.