The Lochaber Branch of the Scottish National Party (SNP) have selected former head teacher Rebecca Machin to contest the Fort William and Ardnamurchan by-election for Highland Council.
Ms Machin, who was previously head teacher at Kinlochleven High School before becoming the first head of the 3-18 Campus, is well known in the constituency, piloting the school to awards from Highland Council, Stonewall and Eco-schools Gold Award in her time there.
A retired Chemistry teacher, Machin has also been involved with several social enterprises and volunteered with the Lochaber Refugee Resettlement project at the time of the Syrian conflict.
The by-election was triggered by the election of Angus Macdonald as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire at the last general election.
Machin said:
“It is an absolute honour to be selected to contest the by-election in Fort William and Ardnamurchan.
“In my time at Kinlochleven, I was fortunate enough to get to know the young people, the wider families and the desperate need for help with jobs and accommodation.
“The SNP has been in office at Highland Council for just over a year but there are no quick fixes to the long-term problems we inherited from previous administrations.
“It takes time to turn around a juggernaut.
“However, there is now an agreed £2 Billion Highland Investment Plan, with a significant investment in our road network, education and infrastructure.
“I will work alongside Cllr Sarah Fanet and all local representatives and community councils to ensure that the Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward gets its fair share of this investment.
“People who know me understand that I will be willing to work relentlessly to represent those who put their faith in me, represent everyone regardless of their politics and strive to overhaul the out of sight, out of mind attitude which has so blighted Lochaber’s relationship with Inverness.”
