John Lamont MSP admits he wants to be part time MSP

MSP Lamont now targets Westminster seat

Chris Walker stands down as Conservative candidate

This is the headline and sub-headline in today's Berwickshire News. The fact that Chris Walker is standing down is not the main headline shows how much Conservative John Lamont MSP wants this more than he does being an MSP in my opinion.

Also, I did predict this earlier this week on my blog.

"Speaking to The Berwickshire News Mr Lamont was clear that should he be selected, and be successful at the next general election, he would also continue to serve as an MSP until the next Scottish Parliament election"

So, not satisfied at being the MSP, he now wants to go for Westminster, fair play, but to admit that if, and I say if, (because Mike Moore MP is a fantastic constituency MP and a Liberal Democrat and already holds the job of MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk), John Lamont beats Mike (highly unlikely) he will only be a part time MP.

Go to Mike Moore MPs website, go on please, go and read how much Mike has fought recently for people as firm after firm in the Borders has shed more jobs. Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk needs a full time MP. Their MP is Mike Moore and he is full time, and wishes to remain so, standing up for the people of the Borders. The Conservatives attacked Mike Moore MP when he was campaigning to save 5 local Post Offices and to build the Selkirk by-pass. Yet Mike Moore continued to do his job for the people of BRS and the Borders.

The other MP in the Borders is Conservative David Mundell, who in February this year "Mr Salmond has two jobs when many people in Scotland don't have a single job at all. That is quite wrong."

I assume David Mundell will mention this at some point to his colleague John?

John Lamont MSP also says that he thinks (assuming he wins) a by-election for his MSP seat would be "an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer" however, his boss in Holyrood, Annabel Goldie thinks the exact opposite of Alex Salmond in Banff & Buchan.

Chris Walker, Tory PPC for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk - pushed?

So, the Tories have dumped a candidate, not really big news but is it all as it seems?

There are a lot of unhappy Tory activists who are sounding off all across the Borders.

Chris Walker's email to Tory Members paints a picture of a busy hotelier wanting to spend more time with his business - good on him for that, especially in the current climate.

But is it more about canvassing targets not being reached and not enough doors being knocked on, or just the fact that the Liberal Democrats in the Borders ran a super European campaign? Or all three?

The Conservative European campaign in the Borders was lightweight, no addressed election freepost leaflets, hardly any supersigns in farmers fields and not that much door knocking!

So, let us see what John Lamont MSP does over the coming days, I understand they want to get a new candidate in place by early August, let us see if John Lamont MSP is about to turn his back on Holyrood?