A FAMILY man who has been serving MSPs for years has been selected as a candidate for Dunfermline and Dollar in the upcoming UK General Election.

Thomas Heald has been named as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for the constituency for the election to be held on Thursday, July 4.

A father of two young children, Thomas has worked in hospitality, social media marketing and has been head of office for MSPs serving both Dunfermline and Dollar.

He has also been a principal advisor for high profile shadow cabinet positions for more than a decade.

Mr Heald said: “I am incredibly proud to stand as the Scottish Conservative candidate for the new seat of Dunfermline and Dollar.

‘’In Scotland, this election is about removing the SNP so we can get the focus back onto job creation, reducing NHS waiting lists and prioritising investment in schools rather than a relentless campaign about independence.

‘’People are incredibly disenchanted with the SNP. I have been on doorsteps across the constituency and people want an MP who can get on with the job of making local people’s lives better, not using their time in parliament stoking division.

‘’I look forward to a positive campaign over the coming weeks where I will have the opportunity to speak to local residents about their priorities.’’

The selection of Mr Heald comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called an early UK General Election this month, ending speculation on when electors would next head to the polls.

READ MORE: West Fife councillor is candidate for Dunfermline and Dollar


As previously reported, the Wee County has been split across two freshly drawn up UK Parliament constituencies following changes to area boundaries.

Most of Clackmannanshire, which has been part of the Ochil and South Perthshire seat, will fall into the new Alloa and Grangemouth county constituency.

The towns of Clackmannan, Dollar and the surrounding hamlets will, however, be part of the new Dunfermline and Dollar county constituency which also includes Kincardine, Saline, Valleyfield and other areas to the east.

Current Ochil and South Perthshire MP John Nicolson previously raised concerns at what he labelled “odd” changes and at the time confirmed he would stand in the election for Alloa and Grangemouth.