The Highland and Islands Scottish Green Party have selected teacher Peter Newman as their candidate for the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency at the next Westminster general election.
“It’s time for a change,” said Mr Newman, who is 42 and originally from Lochaber.
“I’m honoured to be chosen as a candidate for the Scottish Greens in the next election and want to make sure that the voices of the people so long ignored in rural areas are heard during the campaign.
Mr Newman, whose mother still has a house in the area, previously worked on Ardnamurchan where he was a guidance teacher and faculty head.
“The West Highlands are literally world famous for their majesty, their beauty and their hospitality. We have to make sure they are preserved for us to hand on the the next generation.
“This new constituency, which splits off Ardnamurchan and Kinlochleven from Fort William, is an excellent example of Tory gerrymandering. Covering 12,000 square kilometres, Westminster is ensuring that – once again – the voices of normal people are diluted and easy to marginalise.
“Business as usual won’t cut it. Forelock-tugging wannabe Lairds who will keep land ownership as is while telling you it’s your fault that you’re struggling, won’t cut it. What Lochaber needs is someone who can listen to you, rather than those in the centre, articulate your issues and take your fights to those who want to keep the status quo. An independent voice for a country moving towards independence and that is what I feel I offer.”
Peter Newman has been involved with various community projects over the years, including Fort William and South Lochaber Football Clubs, where he was president, as well as one of the coaches of the ladies’ team and primary football.
He continued: “I have good relationships with lots of community groups in the area and, I feel it’s really important that they feel listened to.
“Getting out there and working with places like Mallaig, Rum and Eigg, which don’t feel like their experiences or expertise are valued as they should be, that’s the true goal of my campaign.
“These are fragile communities which deserve support, encouragement and respect – not to be used as generators for offshoring profits for foreign multinationals.”
The teacher also has a background which spans the media and third sector organisations. He co-hosted a show on community radio station, Nevis Radio, as well as volunteering as part of Lochaber’s Refugee Resettlement programme and helping shape media strategy and branding at several social enterprises linked to education in Highland.