A FORMER Argyll and Bute MP has been selected as the Liberal Democrats' candidate for the next UK General Election.

Alan Reid previously served as the MP for the area from 2001 until 2015, when he was defeated by the SNP's Brendan O'Hara.

He fought the seat again when former Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election in June 2017, but trailed a distant third behind Mr O'Hara and the Conservative candidate Gary Mulvaney.

Mr Reid, who is also a former Argyll and Bute councillor, contested the seat again at the last UK poll in December 2019, again finishing in third place behind the same two candidates for the SNP and Conservatives.

He was selected after a postal ballot of all Liberal Democrat members in the constituency.

Mr Reid will join Mr O'Hara on the ballot paper for the newly-enlarged Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber seat, while Oban councillor Amanda Hampsey will contest the seat for the Conservatives.

READ MORE: Conservatives reveal Helensburgh candidate for next UK election

Mr Reid said: “Next year’s election gives us a great opportunity to win this new constituency.

"The Tory and SNP governments have failed. Soaring energy bills, food prices and housing costs are overwhelming millions of people. The country needs a fresh start.

“Liberal Democrats would help people with the cost of living and their energy bills by implementing a proper windfall tax on the super-profits of oil and gas producers and traders.

“Liberal Democrats would invest in the transport infrastructure of Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber.

“I warned the SNP 15 years ago that if they didn’t invest in new ferries, the ageing fleet would break down regularly. Sadly they ignored all the warnings and local people are now suffering the consequences.

“We urgently need several new car ferries as well as new vessels for Dunoon and Kilcreggan and a bridge or tunnel to replace the Corran ferry.

“Our crumbling roads need investment, particularly the A82, A83 and A816.

“Liberal Democrats would tackle these problems where the SNP and the Tories have failed.

“I look forward to campaigning on these issues across the whole of Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber”.