JIM Leishman is to stand as a Scottish Labour candidate for Dunfermline in the forthcoming council election, the party announced today.
The Fife football legend has been selected as one of two Labour candidates to contest the Dunfermline Central ward. He currently serves as the Director of Football at Dunfermline Athletic. He has been named as Fife Labour’s sports champion and will be tasked with bringing about a sporting revolution in the Kingdom.
Mr Leishman said: “Every child in Fife should have more chance to take part in sports at school and every teenager in Fife should have better opportunities to use our sports facilities. I want to begin a sporting revolution that will give our young people better chances, deal with social problems, help our young people feel part of communities and build on Fife’s great sporting tradition.
“We need to put our sports facilities to better use and get every school involved in our sporting revolution. I am a Labour Party member and am proud to stand for the election as a Labour candidate for Dunfermline Central. I’ll be holding regular surgeries starting next week so that I can hear about the issues that matter most to locals. I look forward to meeting as many people as possible in the run up to the election in May.”
Fife Labour leader Councillor Alex Rowley said: “I am pleased that Jim Leishman has joined Fife Labour’s talented team of councillors and candidates. It is clear that we can do more to support the army of volunteers running sports clubs all over Fife involving thousands of children and young people. With Jim at the helm a Labour administration in Fife will drive a sporting revolution in our schools, facilities and communities and will ensure that the local clubs and groups have the level of support and backing they deserve. Jim is Fife’s best known sportsman, someone with enthusiasm, energy and commitment to Dunfermline and to Fife. I am also delighted to announce today that former First Minister Henry McLeish has agreed to support the team that will take sport forward in Fife. Jim will use sport to transform the lives of children and young adults across the Kingdom. Henrys experience in reviewing sport at a Scottish level will be a major asset here in Fife.”
Former Fife MP, MSP and First Minister, Henry McLeish, said: “I’ve known Jim Leishman for many years and I’m delighted that he is standing as a Labour candidate. This is great news for Dunfermline and great news for Fife. I look forward to working alongside Jim over the coming weeks and months to deliver a sporting revolution in the Kingdom.”
Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Gordon Brown, said: “Jim Leishman is a local hero whose commitment to sport, to young people and to Fife is well known across Scotland. He has shown what he’s capable of through his work with Dunfermline Athletic and the Mary Leishman foundation. Jim has inspired generations of young people and he will be a fantastic ambassador for Dunfermline at Fife Council and I’m proud to endorse his candidature.”
