THE onward march of the Scottish Conservatives has been recognised in The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards with another record haul of nominations.
After bucking the national trend against her party to gain 12 MPs in the general election - ultimately keeping Theresa May in Downing Street - Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is again nominated for the prestigious main title, which she won last year.
Willie Rennie, who has helped the Scottish Liberal Democrats consistently punch above their weight, is also nominated, as is Brexit Minister Michael Russell, whose fight against a Westminster “power grab” has found allies throughout the UK and across the political spectrum.
The judges were chaired by Donald Martin, Editor in Chief of Newsquest Scotland.
Ms Davidson is also nominated for best E-Politician alongside fellow Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser and the SNP MP Stewart McDonald.
The SNP’s Alison Thewliss and Stephen Gethins are in the Best Scot at Westminster category, the former for highlighting the child tax credit ‘rape clause’ and the latter for his work on Brexit and international affairs. Scottish Secretary David Mundell is also nominated.
Former Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who made a powerful speech attacking the rape clause, is nominated for Donald Dewar Debater of the Year, alongside Scottish Tory deputy Jackson Carlaw and Labour’s Neil Findlay, both lively critics of the SNP government.
Mr Findlay was also shortlisted for Committee MSP of the Year, as were former SNP cabinet secretary Alex Neil and Conservative Adam Tomkins.
The SNP’s Kate Forbes and Ben Macpherson, Labour’s Monica Lennon, and Tory Miles Briggs are in contention in the One to Watch category.
An unusual joint entry features in the Community MSP section, with LibDem MSPs Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott nominated for shared work in their Orkney and Shetland seats.
The SNP’s Mairi Gougeon is also nominated for her scrutiny of NHS Tayside, and Green Andy Wightman for raising the growing problem of short-term lets in the capital.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown is shortlisted in the Politics in Business Award with Tory finance and economy spokesmen Murdo Fraser and Dean Lockhart.
The women highlighting the lasting effects of mesh implants are nominated for Public Campaign or Campaigner of the Year, as are the Have You Got the Bottle scheme, and Amanda Kopel, whose Frank’s Law campaign is extending care for dementia sufferers such as her late husband.
In the Local Politician of the Year category, the nominees are Aberdeen City Council leader and Labour rebel Jenny Laing, Edinburgh planning convener Lewis Ritchie, and Susan Aitken, the first ever SNP leader of Glasgow City Council.
The 2017 awards, to be held at Prestonfield House on November 16, are sponsored by Virgin Trains, Royal Bank of Scotland, ScottishPower Renewables, SELECT, Improvement Service, and Aiir Networks, an NVT Group company.
Tommy Mitchell, Technical Director of AiiR Networks said: “AiiR Networks is very proud to be associated with The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards again in 2017. Taking a look at this year’s nominees, we appreciate their undeniable contribution to Scottish politics and congratulate everyone who has been shortlisted. All that remains is the wait to see who scoops the awards on November 16th. Good luck.”
A spokesman for the Improvement Service said: “The IS is delighted to be sponsoring the Local Politician of the Year Award for the eighth successive year.
"We warmly congratulate the deserving nominees and look forward to celebrating the achievements of our local politicians."
Newell McGuiness from SELECT said: “SELECT are delighted to be sponsoring the Committee MSP of the Year category for the second successive year. ‘We congratulate all of the nominees, all of whom have demonstrated effective challenges within their respective committees.”
Malcom Buchanan, Managing Director Corporate & Commercial Banking, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “This has been an significant year for the Scottish and UK Governments and has brought into focus the importance of strong leadership in politics. “The finalists selected in the Politics in Business Awards category reflect this and each has shown a commitment and understanding of the needs and wants of businesses in these challenging and uncertain times.
“We wish every contender the very best of luck.”
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower Renewables said: “We would like to congratulate this year’s finalists for the awards.
"The judges have selected a group who have made a significant contribution and particularly those in the one to watch category, which ScottishPower Renewables are proud to support.”
Best Scot at Westminster – Supported by Virgin Trains
Stephen Gethins (SNP)
David Mundell (Con)
Alison Thewliss (SNP)
Donald Dewar Debater of the Year – Supported by Aiir Networks an NVT Group company
Jackson Carlaw (Con)
Kezia Dugdale (Lab)
Neil Findlay (Lab)
One to Watch – Supported by ScottishPower Renewables
Miles Briggs (Con)
Kate Forbes (SNP)
Monica Lennon (Lab)
Ben Macpherson (SNP)
Committee MSP of the Year – Supported by SELECT
Neil Findlay (Lab)
Alex Neil (SNP)
Adam Tomkins (Con)
Community MSP of the Year
Mairi Gougeon / Evans (SNP)
Tavish Scott (LibDem, Shetland) and Liam McArthur (LibDem, Orkney)
Andy Wightman (Green, Lothians)
Politics in Business Award – Supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland
Keith Brown (SNP)
Murdo Fraser (Con)
Dean Lockhart (Con)
E-Politician
Ruth Davidson (Con)
Murdo Fraser (Con)
Stewart McDonald (SNP)
Public Campaigner of the Year
Amanda Kopel: Frank’s Law
Have You Got The Bottle
Mesh Campaigners
Scottish Local Politician of the Year – Supported by IS
Susan Aitken (SNP)
Jenny Laing (Lab)
Lewis Ritchie (SNP)
Scottish Politician of the Year
Ruth Davidson (Con)
Willie Rennie (LibDem)
Michael Russell (SNP)
Why are you making commenting on HeraldScotland only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel