Glasgow Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane announces bid to become East Renfrewshire MP

Scottish Tory MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane has announced his bid to become an MP at the next general election.

The Glasgow region MSP has been chosen as the Tories’ candidate for East Renfrewshire – a seat currently held by the SNP’s Kirsten Oswald.

Elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021, the Scottish Conservative health spokesperson has continued to work part-time as a GP.

He urged those who wanted to unseat the SNP to back his party at the next election, expected sometime in 2024.

He said: “I was delighted to be selected by local members to stand in East Renfrewshire at the general election and I am going to fight hard on their behalf to win the seat back from the SNP.

“Elections have always been close here and one thing is clear: only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives in East Renfrewshire can unseat the warring and scandal-ridden SNP. A vote for anyone else risks letting them back in.

“The people of East Renfrewshire want, and deserve, an MP focused on their real priorities – like the global cost-of-living crisis and public services – rather than one obsessed with pushing for another divisive independence referendum.”

He added: “As a practising NHS GP, I understand the priorities of local people and I have a proven track record of working hard on the issues that matter to them.

“In the Scottish Parliament, I have held the SNP-Green Government to account over its shambolic management of our NHS, which people across Scotland rely on every day.”

The Tories’ Paul Masterton won in East Renfrewshire at the 2017 election before the SNP took the seat in 2019.

Oswald secured a majority of 5,426, as Labour came in third with 12.4% of the vote.

SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart said: “It’s little surprise that yet another Tory MSP wants to abandon Holyrood without a second thought – all for a chance to get closer to their dream of sitting behind their real bosses in Westminster.

“This move just underlines the lack of respect Tories have for The Scottish Parliament and how little they really think of Douglas Ross’ hapless leadership. It’s clear that the Tories are going nowhere at Holyrood and even their frontbenchers know it as they desperately seek escape routes.

“Unfortunately for Sandesh, the people of Scotland will be the ones who make their judgement on his move to Westminster – and when they have a chance to make their voice heard, they will reject the cruel and incompetent Tory policies which have created the cost of living crisis hammering households across the country.”