Exclusive:Scots Reform candidate claimed to know about tourism industry because he 'grew up in a castle'

Reform's Scottish candidates with UK leader Nigel Farage | PA

A Scots Reform candidate said he knew about the tourism industry because he “grew up in a castle”, it has been claimed.

Fred Campbell - Reform’s candidate for Inverness and Nairn - said his home being open to tourists during his aristocratic childhood meant he knew about the sector, according to others who took part in a hustings in Inverness last week.

Mr Campbell is the younger brother of the 7th Earl of Cawdor. The family’s seat is Cawdor Castle, a tourist attraction in Nairnshire with links to Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Reform's Scottish candidates with UK leader Nigel Farage | PA

Labour councillor Michael Gregson, who took part in the hustings organised by the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC), said Mr Campbell’s claim was “laughable”.

Lib Dem candidate Neil Alexander - who also took part - said it drew “incredulous looks” from the audience.

Four others present confirmed that Mr Campbell had spoken about his father opening up the castle as a tourist attraction.

Mr Gregson said Mr Campbell recalled being told as a boy: “You better finish your breakfast quickly, because there’s folk coming round at 10 o’clock. We’re open to the public.”

Mr Gregson continued: “He seemed to think that because his childhood involved having visitors coming round the castle and him having to tidy his stuff away, was qualification to talk about one of our major industries with any authority.

“The idea that tourism was just a matter of opening up a door to to some tourists to come and see your castle.

“There’s a whole heap of important issues which we were discussing at the hustings and the ASSC had a really impressive audience there of people in the sector with real concerns wanting to hear serious responses and thoughts about how we can support and develop the industry and the challenges it faced.

“This was just laughable and most people were shaking their heads in astonishment at what he said.”

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Lib Dem candidate for Inverness and Nairn Mr Alexander also said Mr Campbell claimed to know about tourism from growing up in a castle.

He said: "There were plenty of incredulous looks when the Reform candidate made these comments.

"It's clear that Reform UK are total chancers. While Scottish Liberal Democrats are knocking on doors and speaking to voters across Inverness & Nairn, Fred Campbell is looking out on them from his battlements and thinking he knows best.

“It's clear that this seat is a two horse race between me and the SNP. Anyone who wants to oust the SNP, needs to vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats."

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Scottish Conservative candidate for Moray Tim Eagle, who also took part in the hustings, said: "These remarks displayed an astonishing lack of basic knowledge from Reform's candidate on issues that matter to those living and working in the Highlands.

"He was all over the place when it came to addressing concerns facing the tourist sector and businesses that rely on it, including about the impact of the SNP's Visitor Levy.

"The Highlands and Islands have already been let down for too long by central-belt focused SNP MSPs who have neglected their needs.

“The last thing they need is a new Reform MSP disconnected from the reality facing them. That is why voters across the Highlands and Islands should use their peach ballot paper to vote for the Scottish Conservatives to stop an SNP majority."

Mr Campbell was selected as Reform UK’s candidate for Inverness and Nairn last month.

He is also fourth on the Highlands and Islands regional list. Scottish Reform leader Malcolm Offord has predicted the party can win four MSPs in the region.

In 2019 Mr Campbell was fined £500 for illegally firing a £12,000 shotgun during a shoot on an estate.

He is standing against the Lib Dem’s Mr Alexander, independent Fergus Ewing, Labour’s Shaun Fraser, the SNP’s Emma Roddick, Advance UK’s Steve Skerrett and Conservative Ruaraidh Stewart.

Former SNP cabinet secretary Mr Ewing has been the constituency’s MSP since the Scottish Parliament was founded in 1999. Former SNP minister Emma Roddick has been a Highlands and Islands list MSP since 2021.

Reform UK was approached for comment.