John SleighAberdeen South and North Kincardine Liberal Democrats have chosen John Sleigh as their prospective candidate for the Holyrood election.

Nicol Stephen, Liberal Democrat MSP for Aberdeen South, said:

“I have known and worked with John for some years now. I know he has what it takes to make an excellent Member of the Scottish Parliament.

“John is from the North East and whether it is fighting to save Doonies Farm or campaigning for fairer council funding, he fights for what is right and for what he truly believes in.

“He has the passion, enthusiasm and a track record of standing up for our area to make him a first rate MSP.”

John said: “I am delighted and honoured to be selected by the members as the candidate for the elections in May.

“We are going into the election in a strong position with a notional majority of more than 2,000 votes in the new Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat.

“There are some massive challenges facing the North East -the squeeze on public finance and the future of the economy.

“I am fighting the election to get the North East a better deal at Holyrood, starting with council funding. I can’t wait to get going.”

John was born in Aberdeen and raised on his family farm in Aberdeenshire. After studying at university in Glasgow, he returned to the North East to work on the family farm. He also ran a successful farming business.

Last May he stood in Aberdeen South in the 2010 Westminster election.

Over the years, John has been heavily involved in a number of community groups, charities and social enterprises in Aberdeen. He set up and served as chairperson of Friends of Doonies. This is a social enterprise created to take on the running of a community farm in Aberdeen.

John is currently diversifying the family farm by setting up a renewable energy company.