Western Isles councillor joins Lib Dems

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today welcomed Malcolm Macdonald as a new Liberal Democrat councillor for the Western Isles, as he emphasised that the party is continuing its revival in every corner of Scotland.

Mr Macdonald had previously served as an independent on the Western Isles council. As well as his role as a councillor, Malcolm is also Chairman of the Stornoway Historical Society, Chairman and Secretary of the Stornoway Athletic Football Club and a Boys Brigade officer.

It follows the results of the General Election earlier this year, where the Liberal Democrats returned a record-breaking 72 MPs to Westminster, the party’s best result since its founding.

Mr Macdonald said:

“I am absolutely delighted to be representing the Western Isles as a Liberal Democrat councillor. As a party that champions communities and puts their needs first, they are a very natural fit for my own values.

“Whether it’s ferries, connectivity, health or population decline, people in the Western Isles feel that no one in government cares about the challenges in front of them. The SNP claim to be strong for Scotland, but they repeatedly ignore the issues that matter to people here.  

“It doesn’t have to be like this. Liberal Democrats have a proud and long-standing tradition of standing up for rural communities. We are all about listening to people, understanding what they need and doing everything we can to make a difference for them. That’s exactly where my focus is as a Western Isles councillor."

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“Malcolm cares passionately about the Western Isles and its people, so it’s fantastic to see him representing the area as a Lib Dem.

“It’s yet more proof of the trust people are placing in our party. With a Liberal Democrat, you get a local champion who will fight tirelessly for you. You get someone who will fight for fast access to the healthcare you need, deliver for Scottish agriculture, invest in our infrastructure and tackle the housing crisis.

“In huge swathes of Scotland, Liberal Democrats have shown we have a compelling vision to end years of SNP neglect. We will keep working day-in, day-out to deliver that vision, standing up for people in every corner of the country.”