The National:

EDINBURGH Western may be a tough seat for the SNP to take, but Sarah Masson believes being the only pro-EU candidate could secure her the win. The 29-year-old is up against incumbent LibDem Alex Cole-Hamilton, 43, who was elected in 2016 with a majority of only 2960 votes.

The seat has historically been LibDem in four out of five elections since devolution, except for when it was taken by Colin Keir for the SNP in 2011, and is one of the key battlegrounds that could secure a pro-independence majority in Holyrood.

SNP candidate Sarah Masson stood in the seat in the 2019 General Election, finishing second with 33% of the vote, and said she has been getting “incredible feedback” on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s handling of the pandemic now restrictions have lifted and door-to-door campaigning has begun.

The National spoke to Masson in Davidson’s Mains Park, Edinburgh, about the priorities for the area and what she will do as an MSP if elected.

Masson said: “It’s a very European city and area, I’m the only candidate in this constituency that’s now fighting for the right for people to have a say over their future and get us back into the EU.

“The LibDems have given up that fight and once again joined in with the Tories and say this is what it is, get on with it. I’m not willing to give up that fight, because the people in Edinburgh Western deserve someone who is going to fight for what they want, and what they want is to be in the European Union and have that voice listened to.”

Brexit, Masson said, has had a huge impact across the city, from the fringe and arts sector to big business.

She explained: “I think what independence can offer is a route back into the EU, which we know is going to be Scotland’s only chance of playing our part within that forum, and with some of our closest neighbours.

“I’ve thought about independence a lot over the past six months or so and especially because independence for me was about starting afresh as well and about building a country that I want to see, and would be a fairer country for everyone, every single person in a community in Scotland, and tying in a lot to our recovery from the pandemic.

“I think what independence can do is make sure that as we’re trying to seize the opportunities that lie ahead post-pandemic, our imagination and sights aren’t being limited by the powers of devolution and the limits of devolution that we’ve seen over the last year.”

Locally, she says there are concerns about transport, congestion, the condition of the roads and a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Asked why residents in Edinburgh Western should vote for her, Masson said: “I think what the area needs more than anything else is an MSP who is actually going to work with the decision making bodies, like the local council, like the Scottish Government.

“I think for a while there’s been lots of representation being made, just shouting about the issue, and what I would want to do is work with the council constructively, work with the Scottish Government constructively, to make sure people’s opinions are being heard and local interests are being put first, I think that’s what the area is lacking.”

The National visited scenic Cramond beach to ask voters who they were supporting in the upcoming election and found that many were lending their vote to the SNP, and were not impressed with the track record of the UK government and the Prime Minister.

Mark Love, 38, a police officer who lives locally, was very critical of Boris Johnson.

He said: “I’m not a big fan, I don’t like his policies as a politician, I don’t like his attitude as a person, I don’t like the way he is able to mumble his way out of stuff.

“He just plays the buffoon and gets away with it, he’s a very clever man, you don’t get to that position without being a clever person, but he doesn’t have the charisma of other politicians.

“I’m voting for the SNP, I believe in an independent Scotland. I think we should make decisions for the country in the country, rather than somebody else making it for them.

“I wouldn’t let my neighbour decide what I’m going to spend my money on. That’s the only party that’s offering it, if other parties offered it I might vote for someone else, but they’re not.”

Ann Orr, 67, retired, dubbed Johnson an “idiot” and also said she would be voting SNP.

She said: “I always vote for them, I think they’ve done great things for Scotland. The SNP never gets in in my area, I don’t know why.

“I don’t think independence would do us any harm, I think we would be better off. I did vote for independence the last time. I think we should have a second referendum.”

Lesley Fraser, an independent celebrant, who was walking her 12-week old puppy Bracken on the beach, said she thought Douglas Ross was doing his best under “difficult circumstances” but wouldn’t be lending his party her vote, despite coming from a family of Tory supporters.

She said: “I will be voting SNP because I believe in independence, although I don’t really want to stay in the EU so that’s been a bit of a challenge for me, but that’s politics isn’t it, you’ve got to think about what you like and vote for the best one at the time.

“I think that if we had an independent Scotland then I think we could do a better job than within the UK.”