A political “bruiser” who has spent the last 16 years honing his skills at Holyrood hopes to be the next MP for Banff and Buchan.
North-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone has been chosen by local party members to try and topple sitting SNP MP Eilidh Whiteford, who was elected in 2010 to succeed former First Minister Alex Salmond, at the general election in May.
Mr Johnstone, a former dairy farmer from near Stonehaven, was first elected to Holyrood in 1999 and has stood for Westminster several times over the years.
But the 53-year-old has an uphill battle to overturn Ms Whiteford’s 4,027 majority which saw the Tory candidate Jimmy Buchan, a well known fisherman, finish in second place with 11,841 votes five years ago.
The SNP have been voracious in pointing out what they see as the folly of UK Government austerity measures and welfare reforms but the majority of voters in Aberdeenshire voted “No” in the independence referendum.
This suggests that it is unlikely that people who rejected the break-up of the UK will vote for the SNP given its principal reason for existence is independence.
But it is likely that the majority of Yes voters will rally around Ms Whiteford and the unionist vote will be split between the Tories, Liberal Democrats and Labour.
Mr Johnstone is currently the Tory’s spokesman on transport, welfare reform and housing at Holyrood.
“I’m really looking forward to making the case for voting Scottish Conservative to the people of Banff and Buchan,” said the married father of two.
“There is only one party in Scotland who can guarantee the future of the UK and the security of the economy, and that’s the Scottish Conservatives.
“It’s clear the SNP will never stop agitating for separation, and both Labour and the Liberal Democrats haven’t even tried to hide the fact they’d willingly jump into bed with them at Westminster.
“That would pose a real threat to the constitution, because Alex Salmond would be in a position to make all sorts of demands upon a weak Ed Miliband.
“The fact is if you want a secure UK and a secure economy, you have to vote for it, and that’s a vote for the Scottish Conservatives.”
Jayne Duff, chairwoman of the Banff and Buchan Conservative branch, said she was pleased Mr Johnstone had been selected as a candidate on Monday night.
“He’s a real bruiser who is ready to take on the SNP,” she added.
“Voters in the area will be used to seeing him on television, newspapers and hearing him on the radio.
“He’s a passionate campaigner on Conservative values, and never shies away from a challenge.
“We look forward to seeing him win over voters and increasing our share of the vote.”