A Scottish journalist has announced that he is to stand for election for a seat on Aberdeen City Council.

Hamish Mackay, a journalist for 45 years will stand as an independent candidate for the Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee in the by-election which takes place on Thursday 23 June.

The 63-year-old is a journalism graduate from the University of Westminster, London. He began his career on the John o’ Groats Journal weekly newspaper in Wick.

He then joined the Press and Journal in Aberdeen and spent 25 years at the morning newspaper, rising to the position of acting news editor.

Said Hamish: “I am standing as an Independent as I am greatly concerned about the growing trend towards a  democratic deficit – highlighted now in Scotland where the SNP have won a majority at the Scottish Parliament and are hell-bent on devolution. The major parties in Scotland want everything their own way – and don’t really brook any opposition.

“In oil-rich Aberdeen, society is palpably disintegrating as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. What I am striving for is a practical implementation of David Cameron’s laudable goal to foster the ideals of The Big Society.”

During the past 15 years Hamish has run his own business in Aberdeen called Mackay Media Consultancy.

He has stood three times unsuccessfully for election to Aberdeen City Council and has also twice contested the post of Rector of Aberdeen University.

His nomination brings the total of candidates bidding to succeed disgraced former Liberal Democrat city councillor Scott Cassie to eight. He was jailed last month for taking £13,500 from a sports society.