WHITEFORD & TOPPING DELIVER CONGRATS FROM FIRST MINISTER TO BROCH CENTENARIAN

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and Fraserburgh councillor Brian Topping dropped in on retired teacher Vi Johnston yesterday to deliver some special 100th birthday wishes.

Miss Johnston received a bouquet of flowers from Councillor Topping on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council. A letter with a message of congratulations from First Minister and local MP Alex Salmond MP was delivered by Eilidh Whiteford.

Speaking to the Fraserburgh Herald afterwards, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I was delighted to meet Miss Johnston, and pass on the good wishes of the First Minister. Vi had a steady stream of visitors and well-wishers dropping by, and certainly seemed to be enjoying her day. We had a lively chat about her life as a teacher, and life in the Broch over the years. I'm sure her party went with a swing."

Councillor Brian Topping added:

“Delivering these good wishes on such occasions is one of the more pleasant civic duties I have to carry out on behalf of the council from time to time and I was delighted to be able to present Vi with her bouquet on behalf of the council.”

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WHITEFORD OFFICIALLY ADOPTED AS BANFF & BUCHAN CANDIDATE

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford was officially adopted by the local Constituency Association on Saturday night as their candidate for the next UK General Election.

Eilidh has been campaigning across the constituency since being selected in 2007 but the political tradition of holding an 'adoption meeting' as the election approaches was continued on Saturday at an event in New Deer Public Hall attended by over 120 people.

Local MP Alex Salmond and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead spoke in support of Eilidh, who was unanimously adopted. Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson and Euro-MP Ian Hudghton officiated at the event.

Speaking in New Deer on Saturday night, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"I'm very honoured to be the SNP candidate for Banff & Buchan.

"The SNP's priority right now is protecting jobs and working for recovery. At the next General Election the choice will be between London parties intent on slashing public spending, or the SNP, defending our interests and moving Scotland forward.

"My top priority will be to stand up for our local industries and way of life."

Banff & Buchan MP Alex Salmond said:

"In Eilidh Whiteford people can be sure that we have a strong local voice to stand up for our vital interests.

"I am delighted that Eilidh will be leading the campaign in Banff & Buchan for the SNP at the next UK election, whenever Gordon Brown decides to call it.

"I know that Eilidh will work hard to earn the trust of voters in this constituency and build on the proud record of service provided to constituents by their SNP representatives at all levels – councillors, MEPs, MPs and MSPs."

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead MSP added:

"The SNP Government has achieved much for Scotland's farming and fishing industries – but we could do so much more with our own independent representation at the top table in Europe.

"We must never forget that it was the Conservatives who devastated much of the Scottish fishing industry with their dismissal of the industry as "expendable" and taking us into the Common Fisheries Policy.

"Eilidh Whiteford will be a strong voice at Westminster, defending our industries and interests from an uncaring London Government."

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WHITEFORD WELCOMES SNP GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed assurances from First Minister and local MP Alex Salmond that returning management of fishing grounds to regional control is at the core of what the Scottish Government believes should replace the Common Fisheries Policy.

In response to a question from North-east MSP Maureen Watt Mr Salmond confirmed that the SNP Government would work hard to bring control over historic fishing grounds to Scottish control and praised the Scottish fleet on their continued innovations.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“It is clear that the CFP’s top down, inflexible approach has been totally ineffective and I welcome the assurance that the SNP Government will seek to make management of fishing grounds more effective through regional control.

“The fishing industry itself has the most to gain from making fishing a sustainable, profitable industry and the Scottish fleet has been at the cutting edge of innovations to encourage this such as real time closures. As such, it is absolutely right that decisions over what the best measures are for Scottish fishing grounds should be taken in Scotland.

“I sincerely hope that the UK Government will follow Scotland’s lead and recognise that decentralising responsibility for historic fishing grounds must be at the heart of negotiations over what should replace the Common Fisheries Policy”.

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EURO-ACCOLADE FOR BANFFSHIRE BAKERY

Shortbread from a Portsoy bakery will be served in the European Parliament as part of events to mark St Andrew's Day this year thanks to SNP Euro-MP Ian Hudghton, who stopped off in Portsoy yesterday as part of his surgery tour.

Mr Hudghton is arranging for Donalds Bakers’ shortbread to be the ‘official’ shortbread of the European Parliament’s EFA (European Free Alliance) Group St Andrew’s Day celebrations and ‘sealed the deal’ whilst in Portsoy on Monday. The SNP MEP was accompanied by Banff & District councillor Ian Gray, who suggested Donalds for the accolade, and SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford.

Speaking in Portsoy, Ian Hudghton said:

“I am delighted to be able to assist the company in promoting their excellent products in this way.

“I firmly believe in giving local firms the opportunity to get their products into places where it may not always be possible to do so and I will be extremely proud to point out to guests and dignitaries in the European Parliament that the shortbread comes from my constituency.”

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford added:

"Donalds' has been a familiar feature in Portsoy for many years and is a traditional bakery. Ian is always looking for ways to promote North-east businesses and I was pleased to be able to accompany him as he toured Banff & Buchan holding surgeries and visiting local businesses."

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