Local Labour party members have selected Coilla Drake to contest the Orkney Constituency for the Scottish Parliament Elections which take place on Thursday 6th May 2021.

Commenting on her selection Coilla Drake said:

“I am delighted to have been selected by local members as the candidate for Labour. The Liberals and the Tories will tell you that this election is vital to save the Union. The SNP will say that this is the best opportunity for Scotland to gain independence. All these issues are important, but to my mind, the most important thing is that Orkney gets a strong voice for the county in Holyrood.

“Orkney has been luckier than most places, but Covid has still affected us all. Three people have died in the county and most of us will have family or friends whose lives have been touch by tragedy. Personally I have several friends South who have lost relatives to Covid, and also several now suffering with Long Covid. Many people have lost their jobs, the Food Bank has never been busier feeding hungry Orcadians, fuel poverty has increased and keeping warm in the recent freezing weather will have been a struggle for many, our economy has suffered, and the lack of human contact has affected us all.

“Covid has not been defeated – the vaccine programme is fantastic, but it is still only part of the solution. We will need a Government who is prepared to do what is necessary to ensure the virus is controlled. The education of children in the islands has particularly suffered due to poor, patchy broadband and because many families cannot afford for each child to have a PC or tablet. We need to rebuild our society and economy, making sure no one is left behind.

“If elected, I would be a strong voice for Orkney against the centralising tendencies of the SNP.”

The other candidates named so far are Liam McArthur, who will defend the Orkney seat for the Liberal Democrats, Robert Leslie, SNP and Samuel Bown, Conservative.

At the last Scottish Parliament elections in 2016 the result was as follows:

The seat has been held by the LibDems since the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.