Aberdeen-based freelance journalist Hamish Mackay is a candidate for the Scottish parliamentary election on Thursday May 3.

He is fighting to secure one of the seven regional seats in the Highlands and Islands as a member of the newly-launched Scottish Voice party - founded by millionaire Stirlingshire businessman Archie Stirling.

Regional seats are voted for on a proportional representation basis, which gives smaller parties and independents an opportunity to be elected on a relatively small share of the vote.

Hamish was brought up in Sutherland and is a former pupil of Dornoch Academy and a journalistic graduate of Central London University.

He began his journalism career on Caithness weekly newspapers the John 0’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier.

He then spent 25 years with Aberdeen Journals Ltd - latterly as a senior news executive with the Press and Journal - before launching his own media and PR consultancy, Mackay Media, in 1992.

He was narrowly beaten in the recent battle for rectorship of Aberdeen University by Scottish Green Party MSP Robin Harper.

Hamish said: “Although I live in Aberdeen, my heart is still in the Highlands and I keep in close touch with developments in the area.

“I will now have to get out on the highways and byways for what will be a really intriguing Highlands and Islands electoral odyssey.”

He will act as his own election agent and campaign manager.