EAST LOTHIAN GREENS SELECT JASON ROSE FOR WESTMINSTER

The East Lothian branch of the Scottish Green Party today (4 Dec) confirmed that it has selected local campaigner Jason Rose to be the party’s candidate for the Westminster election in May.

Jason (centre) with fellow East Lothian Greens

Jason (37) lives in Musselburgh with his wife and young daughter, and is originally from Tranent.

Since 2012 he has worked for the Green MSPs in the Scottish Parliament; before that for Scottish Water, winning a UK-wide award for his corporate communications work. Mr Rose began his career as a radio journalist and presenter. He also founded the Inverness Book Festival and was its director for the first five years, and helped set up a community cinema in the Highlands.

Jason's local campaigning includes revealing the extent of Musselburgh's air pollution problem, and he was heavily involved in Yes East Lothian activities during the referendum. Mr Rose is a member of Friends of Musselburgh Links, Fisherrow Waterfront Group and East Lothian Community Rail Partnership, and advises the Trustees of the Brunton Theatre.

Jason Rose said:

“Everyone accepts the next Westminster election will be like no other. Everything's up for grabs and I have an extraordinary opportunity to get across Green ideas about creating jobs, improving wages and protecting public services.

"As a Belter I'm proud to be running for election in my home county of East Lothian. I’m grateful to East Lothian Greens for selecting me, and for the support I’ve had from party members at recent meetings in Dunbar, Musselburgh and North Berwick.

“The Conservative-Libdem government has punished the poorest in East Lothian and squeezed our public services, and Labour have been a feeble opposition. Labour's sense of entitlement in East Lothian is seriously misplaced, and their very public meltdown follows them abandoning their founding values a long time ago.

"By contrast the Scottish Greens are seeing a surge in membership, a steady rise in the polls and are mounting much-needed opposition on issues such as austerity, fracking and TTIP. I look forward to meeting many more people over the coming months and discussing their priorities for East Lothian."

Susan Moffat, Co-convener of East Lothian Greens, said:

"East Lothian Greens are delighted to have Jason as our candidate. After the referendum this important UK election is expected to provide a real challenge to the Westminster parties.

"The Greens offer the only distinctive and radical alternative to the mainstream parties and we look forward to working hard with Jason in his election campaign in East Lothian."