Elections to the Scottish Parliament take place on Thursday 7 May 2026. Labour has announced its candidates who will stand in the Highlands and Islands.

• Shaun Fraser, Candidate for Inverness and Nairn
• Isla McCay, Candidate for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
• Donald MacKinnon, Candidate for Na h-Eileanan an Iar
• Eva Kestner, Candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
• Mike Macleod, Candidate for Orkney
• John Erskine, Candidate for Shetland
• David Blair, Candidate for Moray
• Callum George, Candidate for Argyll and Bute

In Orkney people will be able to meet the Labour Candidate for a Q and A event at the St Magnus Centre on Monday the 17th of November at 7pm. 

Mike’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Scollay Hutchison, was born in Westray.

Born and brought up in Stornoway, Mike was educated at Stornoway Primary and the Nicolson Institute. Mr Macleod graduated from Edinburgh University with M.A. (Honours) in Politics & Economic History, and worked in a variety of administration and IT-related jobs.

Mike also one of the organisers of the highly successful Isle of Lewis Chess Festival in 1995, which brought Grandmasters Judit Polgar and Nigel Short to the island.

A long-time Labour activist and member of Labour’s Scottish Policy Forum, Mr Macleod was a key worker in Torcuil Crichton’s 2024 victory in the Western Isles. He has recently become known as the occasionally outspoken Secretary of Stornoway Community Council.

On being asked why he is standing, Mr Macleod stated :

“Basically all my working life has been about helping people. Having a representative who is willing to listen and make an effort, can make a tremendous difference.”

“If elected, I will address the chronic housing crisis in Orkney by helping to speed up building projects.

“I will focus on securing funding for the urgently needed inter-island ferry replacements and ensure we get much more community benefit for islanders from the many renewable energy projects.

“I will work tirelessly to help improve the NHS by ensuring that there is much better GP availability and faster appointments.

“It’s an immense honour to have been chosen to fly the flag as the Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Orkney. I count myself exceptionally fortunate – Orkney is the most beautiful place, with great people and tremendous potential. The Orkney Labour team and I are really looking forward to campaigning throughout the islands.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant who will not be standing at this election, said:

“We have a fantastic raft of candidates in place in all of the eight seats in the Highlands and Islands and they have hit the ground running. They are out there knocking doors, taking our message to voters throughout the region.

“The Highlands and Islands have been badly let down by 18 years of the SNP government and 14 years of the Tories and we desperately need change. We need to fix our health service, properly fund our public authorities, improve our roads and infrastructure and build more homes.

“We look forward to supporting each and every one of our great candidates in the months ahead.”