Jim Leishman to stand as Labour candidate in local elections

HE IS best known as a football manager – having sat in the hotseat at clubs including Dunfermline and Livingston.

But Jim Leishman is now hoping to enter the political fray after announcing he will stand as a Scottish Labour candidate for Dunfermline in May’s local government elections.

Mr Leishman, currently director of football at Dunfermline, has been selected as one of two Labour candidates to contest the Dunfermline Central ward in the May 3 poll.

He has the support of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former First Minister Henry McLeish and has been named as Fife Labour’s “sports champion” to promote sport in the region.

Launching his candidacy today, he said: “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.

“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.”

Mr Leishman is a well-known figure in Fife, having played for both Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath, before moving into football management.

Mr Brown, who is MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said: “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.”

Mr McLeish added: “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.”