Election 2024: Police make arrest after Conservative candidate's Hawick office vandalised

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 2nd Jul 2024
Last updated 2nd Jul 2024

A woman has been arrested after the office of former Conservative MP John Lamont was vandalised in the Scottish Borders overnight.

"Free Palestine" was among the words graffitied in red paint over the front of the property in Hawick's High Street.

Police say a woman has been charged in connection with the incident and released to appear in court at a later date.

Mr Lamont, who is standing for re-election, is one of eight candidates due to contest the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat in Thursday's General Election.

The full list of candidates is as follows: Ray Georgeson, Scottish Liberal Democrats; Hamish Goldie-Scot, Scottish Family Party; Carolyn Grant, Reform UK; John Lamont, Scottish Conservative and Unionist; Neil MacKinnon, Scottish Green Party; Ellie Merton, Independent; Caitlin Stott, Scottish Labour Party; David James Wilson, Scottish National Party (SNP).

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.30am on Tuesday (July 2nd), officers on patrol stopped a woman near the High Street in Hawick.

"She was arrested and charged in connection with vandalism at a business premises and released to appear in court at a later date."

Meanwhile, anyone in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency still waiting for a postal vote can pick-up a pack from Scottish Borders Council's headquarters until 5pm on Thursday.

The local authority is extending the opening of the drop-in facility - launched in Newtown St Boswells at the weekend - amid concerns many could miss out following a delay in posting them out, as the country prepares to go to the polls.

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