SHE raised the New Labour

standard with Blair's Brew. Now Scotland's only woman laird is fermenting a new Blair (Witch) Project by standing as a Labour Westminster candidate in the next General Election.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, the 35-year-old Lady of Traquair, will try to overturn the 8000 majority held by Liberal Democrat front-bench spokesman Archy Kirkwood in the Roxburgh and Berwickshire seat.

It is three years since she made the special General Election Blair's Brew ale from her tiny award-winning brewery which produces some heady beverages, including Jacobite Ale, which packs a bit of a wallop.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, who owns Scotland's oldest continually inhabited stately home - Traquair House, near Innerleithen, with its secret stairways and hidden priest's room - yesterday promised a ''fresh and innovative approach''.

She said: ''I'm delighted to have been selected. For too long the Scottish Borders have been ignored by national politicians. It is time we had representation within rather than outside Government.

''My priorities are to fight for jobs in the Borders, see a new rail link delivered and continue to tackle crime and low pay.''

Despite an ancient lineage that goes back to the Earls of Traquair and the Royal Stuarts, Catherine Maxwell Stuart has a non-

establishment profile and the annual Traquair Fair is noted for its alternative flavour.

She taught in South America before coming home to take over the 5000-acre Traquair estate - visited by thousands of tourists every year - on the death of her father, Peter, the then Laird of Traquair, 10 years ago. In 1998, her 43-year-old husband, John Grey, a fashion designer, died of cancer only 12 weeks after the birth of their daughter, Isabella. They had married in 1995 in Traquair's tiny domestic chapel.

Last year she married 35-year-old London-based human rights barrister Mark Muller, who gives a significant portion of his time free to Amnesty International.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart is a member of one of Scotland's oldest Roman Catholic families.

Traquair House has been continually occupied since the 12th century.

The list of features reads like a roll call of Scottish history. No fewer than 27 monarchs have visited, including Mary Queen of Scots. It was the original setting for two of Scott's novels. Having said that, it is not above sending itself up. One of the showrooms inside the towering white edifice is described thus: ''The whole display is of no historical significance.''

Catherine Maxwell Stuart has already tested her political skills by fighting her local patch, Innerleithen and Walkerburn, for Labour in last year's local government elections to Scottish Borders Council. She missed capturing the seat by only 90 votes.

Murray Ritchie, Scottish Political Editor, writes: The SNP's executive will be asked to confirm the selection of Miss Annabelle Ewing, daughter of party president Winnie Ewing, MSP, as prospective candidate for Perth, the constituency held at Westminster by Ms Roseanna Cunningham, now an MSP, who is stepping down. Ms Ewing came a close second in Hamilton South last year where she slashed a majority of 16,000 in Labour's fifth safest Scottish seat to just 600 in a by-election caused by the elevation of Mr George Robertson to the Lords.

It is believed that retired banker Stewart Stevenson, a close friend of Mr Alex Salmond and who is also the leader's driver, has been selected to fight Mr Salmond's seat in Banff and Buchan in the General Election. Mr Stevenson's nomination by the local constituency must also be ratified by the NEC.

Ms Patsy Kenton has been selected by the Scottish Liberal Democrats to fight Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber in the General Election.