WITH life expectancy higher than the Scottish average, more people entering the region than leaving and a micro-climate that makes it the driest place in Scotland, Moray undoubtedly has a lot to offer – from its stunning Moray Firth seascapes scattered with dolphins to the tranquil ambience of the Findhorn Foundation.

The Moray Council area may be one of Scotland’s smallest with less than two per cent of the country’s population, but it can be vocal and its political leanings cannot be taken for granted.

Moray voted No in the 2015 independence referendum by 57.6 per cent – above the national average. And in last year’s EU poll, 50.1 per cent of its electorate voted to remain. It recorded the biggest percentage to leave in all Scottish council areas (49.9) and the narrowest margin of victory for either side anywhere in the UK.

The area’s natural resources are outstanding with spectacular mountains and coastlines; the Cairngorms National Park; and it is less than 40 miles to Inverness and around 60 to Aberdeen.

It is an exceptional environment in which to live and work, with affordable housing, quality schools and a crime rate significantly lower than the national average.

Moray is also home to some of the best-known brands in the world — Scotland’s biggest food exporter Walkers is headquartered there and is one of the area’s biggest employers.

Joseph Walker started the company in 1898 with a £50 loan and an ambition to bake the world’s finest shortbread. Now the name is synonymous with the biscuit and more than 1,200 people work for the company.

Walkers is also the only Scottish employer to have won the Queen’s Award to Industry for Export Achievement four times.

Baxters Food Group is another world-famous name – a fourth-generation family business founded by George and Margaret Baxter in Fochabers in 1868.

From small beginnings the company now employs more than 500 people in Scotland and more than 1,400 globally. Baxters also holds a Royal Warrant for the manufacture of Scottish specialities, awarded by The Queen.

Of course no appreciation of the region would be complete without a mention of whisky — and Speyside boasts the highest concentration of distilleries in Scotland. World best sellers produced there include Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant and The Macallan.

In common with other Scottish local authorities, Moray has been somewhat strapped for cash of late, and the saving of £1,000 on maintenance has led to a number of its town clocks not being repaired. Time now stands still in Dufftown, Newmill, Keith and Cullen.

There are 53 schools in the region, but last year the repair bill for them almost doubled to £100 million — and there has been much speculation that some may have to be closed.

In further education, Prince Charles’s alma mater, Gordonstoun is in Moray, and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) affiliated Moray College, whose financial woes are reported elsewhere in The National today, is based in Elgin.

RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss are two instantly recognisable names from Moray. The RAF ensign at Kinloss was lowered for the last time in 2012, bringing to an end the RAF’s 73-year association with the area.

Kinloss was known for many years as a coastal command unit and was home to the Mark 1 and 2 Nimrod fleet.

Following the defence review in 2010, the Nimrod MRA4 project was cancelled, which led to the decision to close the base.

Over the coming months the final Tornado aircraft will depart RAF Lossiemouth for their new base at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

But a new Typhoon squadron will be formed at Lossiemouth, and there will be further growth there with the addition of nine P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

The Moray Firth also plays an increasingly important role in offshore wind energy and there are strong sectors in forestry, textile, technology and tourism.

The last administration in Moray started life as an Independent-Tory coalition, but the SNP has launched several unsuccessful bids for power over the past five years. The death of veteran independent councillor Joe Mackay in 2015 saw a by-election landslide for the SNP, which made it the biggest group on the council — level with the administration.

However, the ruling group’s leader Stewart Cree, and convener, Allan Wright, are both standing down, along with SNP group leader, Gary Coull, and several of his members.

But that Tory councillor James Allan – who had previously quit the ruling group – returned to the administration, thwarting the SNP’s takeover bid.

Another councillor later resigned from the authority, leaving the SNP and the administration with 11 seats apiece, but another independent won that by-election and later joined the administration.

This time around 45 candidates will be contesting the eight Moray wards — 15 Independents, 13 SNP, eight Tories, three Liberal Democrats and two each from the Scottish Greens, Labour and others, and it is a case of anything can happen.