Greens gain Lib Dem defection

The Scottish Greens have unveiled a new parliamentary candidate for East Dunbartonshire – a former Liberal Democrat candidate.

Stuart Callison had been until 2003 a member of the Liberal Democrats since their formation and had contested two general elections for the party. But he has now decided to defect to the Scottish Greens, accusing the Lib Dems of hypocrisy on the environment.

Mr Callison said: “When push comes to shove, the Lib Dems have continually failed to put policy into practice. It has become impossible to regard the Liberals’ environmental commitments as anything other than a disguise, to be discarded if there is any electoral advantage to be had from a contrary view.”