SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL leader Shona Haslam will be a candidate in the European election next month – if it takes place.

The Tweeddale East councillor will be third choice on the ballot paper for the Conservatives.

This week the party released its full list of hopefuls for the Scotland constituency.

And she is among the six names to have been put forward by the Tories.

Mrs Haslam told us: “I am absolutely delighted to have been selected.”

The former charity worker is the only candidate on the party’s list from the Borders.

The other hopefuls include first choice Nosheena Mobarik, an incumbent member and second choice Iain McGill, a businessman from Leith.

It was also announced yesterday that former Tweeddale councillor and ex-deputy leader of SBC Catriona Bhatia will be a candidate for the Liberal Democrats.

Mrs Bhatia, who is the daughter of Borders peer David Steel, is also the party’s third choice behind Sheila Ritchie and Fred Mackintosh.

The European elections are due to take place on Thursday, May 23 – if the UK has not left the EU by then.
At total of 73 MEPs will be elected to represent 12 UK regions.

At the polling station, the public will be asked to vote for a party or independent individual.

The more votes a party gets, the more candidates will be elected from their list. Other parties are also currently preparing for the election.

We will bring you more details when we get them.