JOANNA Cherry will hold off on launching her campaign to become MSP for Edinburgh Central until the party’s selection process is back up and running.
The MP sent a message to her supporters after SNP rival Angus Robertson officially started his bid to win the seat.
However, selection procedures are currently paused due to the coronavirus crisis and The National understands it could be more than a month before branch members around the country get the chance to decide on their preferred candidates.
Cherry tweeted: “Thanks for all the kind messages of support. @theSNP candidate selection process remains suspended due to the pandemic & out of respect for party procedures & the members of @EdinCentralSNP I won’t make any announcements until that position changes.”
Thanks for all the kind messages of support. @theSNP candidate selection process remains suspended due to the pandemic & out of respect for party procedures & the members of @EdinCentralSNP I won’t make any announcements until that position changes
— Joanna Cherry QC (@joannaccherry) July 27, 2020
The SNP MP, whose Westminster constituency takes in large parts of the Scottish Parliament seat, has said she will give up her Commons seat if she wins the Holyrood constituency.
Announcing his campaign yesterday, Robertson said: “I grew up in Edinburgh Central, I work here today and this is where I live. And I understand the different issues that matter to people and communities, right across Edinburgh Central.
“So if you want to elect a hard-working local MSP with high-profile national experience, who will support First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and deliver independence, please support my campaign.”
READ MORE: Angus Robertson-Joanna Cherry seat fight ‘doesn’t mean a civil war’
Robertson, who lost his Moray constituency to the Tories in 2017, is considered to be a Nicola Sturgeon ally, with Cherry allied to Alex Salmond.
Former SNP Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi has said the battle for the seat is caused by “ideological splits”.
But Glasgow councillor Mhairi Hunter, who is close to the First Minister, rejected suggestions of a civil war.
She said: “I am not saying there isn’t an anti-Sturgeon faction – but that doesn’t mean there is a civil war. You need two sides of comparable strength for there to be a war.”
Ruth Davidson, who represents Edinburgh Central at Holyrood, will stand down ahead of next year’s election. She has a majority of just 610 votes and the constituency is a key target for the SNP.
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