Moray Greens have selected their convener James MacKessack-Leitch as the candidate to contest the region in May’s General Election.
Mr MacKessack-Leitch currently lives on the family farm at Alves and is a graduate of both Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities.
He has worked in a number of public and private sector roles and is currently a director of a local community trust.
The 28-year-old said the Greens were the only party that wants to see a fundamental shift in the way the economy works.
“We want to move away from the growth-obsessed model that clearly doesn’t work, and place greater value on the local businesses, social enterprises, and high streets that are the cornerstone of our communities.
“In the short term, we’re committed to making the minimum wage a living wage, and in the long term we’re proposing a complete overhaul of the welfare system — scrapping most benefits in favour of a single universal Citizens Income,” he said.
Mr MacKessack-Leitch said as more powers are devolved from Westminster, the Greens want to see a revival of local government.
He added: “We will work hard to prevent Holyrood becoming a centralising blockage to greater devolution. We want our councils to have the power to govern, and to be locally accountable to the public.”
Independent MSP and Scottish Green Party member John Finnie said: “I am delighted that James has been selected for the Greens in Moray. He is an outstanding community activist who has already ably demonstrated that he will always put Moray residents and their communities ahead of corporate or other outside interests.”