THE co-founder of the national campaign group for English people in Scotland who want independence, English Scots for Yes, has announced his intention to stand to be selected by the SNP to be its candidate to take on Jackie Baillie next year.

Math Campbell-Sturgess, who is convener of the SNP’s Lomond North branch, is a former councillor in Inverclyde and has lived in the Scottish Labour deputy’s Dumbarton constituency since 2016.

Toni Giugliano, a senior party activist and policy manager for a mental health charity, is also bidding to become the candidate.

Campbell-Sturgess told The National: “After lots of thought, being approached by members across Dumbarton and having spoken with SNP colleagues and family, I have decided to seek the nomination to be our 2021 candidate.”

The 37-year old moved to Scotland from the Cambridge area almost 20 years ago to be with his fiancee Angel. The couple have a daughter about to start nursery.

READ MORE: Toni Giugliano bids for backing to take on Jackie Baillie in 2021 election

Campbell-Sturgess added: “I think the people of Dumbarton need someone who is invested in our community like this to speak for them in Holyrood. I wasn’t born here but it is my home, and I want to be that local voice Dumbarton needs. With another independence vote on the cards, I also passionately believe we need an MSP who believes in independence, and is willing to fight for it.

“In 2014, Angel and I were supposed to be getting married. Instead, we spent the time – and money – on the referendum. We co-founded English Scots for Yes.”

He continued: “I know Ms Baillie is a formidable opponent. She was first elected when I was leaving high school. A not-insignificant number of voters weren’t even born then.

“She represents the last real bastion of Labour in the west of Scotland. We’ve never won this seat – yet. I want to be the first SNP MSP for Dumbarton. I know Labour will throw everything at it. To her, and her party, I say bring it on ... I also know some in her party and her Tory friends from Better Together have made occasional snide references to the SNP being somehow anti-English. As someone born and raised near Cambridge, I dare them to say that to my face!”

Baillie has held the seat since 1999 but has seen her majority in that election of 4758 votes slashed to just 109 in 2016. Along with East Lothian and Edinburgh Southern, Dumbarton is one of just three first past the post seats currently held by Richard Leonard’s party in Holyrood. A YouGov poll last week put the SNP on course for a record majority in the May elections.