CAMPAIGNING is already under way in earnest for the Holyrood seat of Aberdeen Donside ahead of the by-election which is still more than five weeks away.
Current SNP list MSP Mark McDonald submitted his resignation to Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick yesterday, having been selected to fight the constituency seat which fell vacant on the death of incumbent Brian Adam.
In an indication of how hard Labour plans to fight the contest, the party's Scottish leader Johann Lamont was in Aberdeen Donside yesterday in support of candidate Willie Young, an Aberdeen City councillor.
On paper it's a big ask for Labour as Mr Adam built the seat on the north of Aberdeen into an SNP redoubt, taking more than 55% of the vote in 2011 and winning a majority of 7175.
That was achieved against Barney Crockett, Mr Young's leader on the local authority, who won a 28.5% share, with Tory councillor Ross Thomson, who has been reselected for the by-election, coming a distant third with around 8% of the vote.
The Liberal Democrats only just saved their deposit last time, securing 6% of the vote and this time they have turned to seasoned candidate, journalist and former adviser to Scottish secretary Michael Moore, Christine Jardine.
Meanwhile, Ukip has selected a former candidate in the Lothians and Fife, Otto Inglis, to stand in Aberdeen Donside and his performance will give an indication as to whether his party's current showing is a purely English phenomenon.
Party leader Nigel Farage is in Scotland this week in an effort to show Ukip has relevance north of the Border.
Mr Inglis said: "I will fight tirelessly against the separation campaign led by the SNP. Only Ukip can deliver the real deal: Independence from the European Union."
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