The Scottish Conservatives have selected Kathleen Robertson as their candidate for the new Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency ahead of the next UK General Election.
Kathleen will be aiming to succeed current Moray MP Douglas Ross who is stepping down as an MP at the next election, which will be held by January 2025 at the latest.
Kathleen says she is "delighted" to have been selected as the candidate for an area she has lived in and also worked in as a vet since 2001.
Last year she was elected as a councillor for the Forres ward and was then elected as leader of Moray Council. Kathleen will continue to serve residents throughout Moray as leader of the Council until the outcome of the election is known.
Kathleen's strong roots in the constituency also include being a past chair of Forres Community Council and serving on multiple parent committees at local schools.
She is also co-chair of the Forres and District Pipe Band and the Moray Youth Pipe Bands and Drums, while she served nine years on Moray's Children's Panel.
Kathleen has also proven to be a 'stalwart' of the community during times of crisis. She worked as an inspector during the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, as a contact tracer throughout the Covid pandemic and most recently as a Contingency Official Veterinarian for the Bird Flu outbreak.
Her campaign is being backed by Douglas Ross who says Kathleen would be an "excellent" voice for these communities and says she is the only candidate who can stop the SNP and ensure the area has a MP that will focus on people's real priorities.
Kathleen Robertson said: "I am delighted to have been selected by the Scottish Conservatives as their candidate for this new constituency.
"I have strong roots in this area. I live here, have raised my family here and worked as a vet for over 20 years.
"I have also served Forres as a community councillor and councillor as well as leading Moray Council for the last year.
"I want to bring that knowledge and experience to the UK Parliament as this new constituency's MP and be a strong voice for the local area.
"The General Election will offer voters in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey the chance to elect a MP fully focused on the issues that matter to them, rather than an SNP MP relentlessly pushing for another independence referendum.
"I look forward to getting out and about in the area and speaking to voters about the issues concerning them."
Current Moray MP Douglas Ross said: "I am delighted to be backing Kathleen's campaign to represent this new seat as our MP.
"I have worked closely with her since she was elected as a councillor last year to deliver for local people across Moray.
"I have no doubt that Kathleen would be an excellent voice for these communities if she was elected.
"Kathleen is the only candidate who can stop the SNP, who have made it clear that they will only talk about independence in this election.
"If local people want a MP focused on their real priorities, then they should vote for Kathleen."
