Local. Labour.
The local choice for Galloway & West DumfriesJack McConnel for Galloway & West Dumfries
HOW TO VOTE FOR JACK:
I would love to see you at the selection meeting, held on Thursday 1 May at 18:30 on Zoom. You must attend in order to vote.
Every vote will count to ensure we have a local candidate.
REGISTER BY CLICKING THIS LINK:
https://labour.zoom.us/meeting/register/vtSICg3ZSmmOo0rWpWUI-A
I’m standing to be Scottish Labour’s local candidate for Galloway & West Dumfries.
The selection meeting is on Thursday 1 May at 18:30 on Zoom, and I’d love to see you there.
If you’d like to talk more, please email me at jackmcconnel.scotlab@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.
I’m proud to have the backing of much of Dumfries & Galloway Labour Party.
You can READ ENDORSEMENTS from elected, office-holding, and ordinary members here.
But I’m also asking members in Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire to support me too: you have an equal say in this selection, and I’d be honoured to have your vote as the local candidate for Galloway & West Dumfries.
Local.
I was born and raised here, and care deeply about our home. My husband and I live on the farm where my grandparents worked the fields near New Galloway. I know this region, I’m of it, and I want to serve it.
My family’s roots in Galloway & West Dumfries go back generations. I was often dragged into the fields to help with baling when I was younger. But like too many of our young people, I became one of our region’s greatest exports: our people. I moved away for study and work. Another depopulation statistic. But I moved back.
You can read local endorsements here.
I’m not a career politician. I spent years as a diplomat, working across four continents in three languages. I always put in the hours behind the scenes to do the job properly. That’s the same commitment I’d bring to representing this area. And then, home called. We came back. And after working for our country overseas, I want to represent our home in Holyrood.
My politics is rooted in my faith and community. I helped set up our church’s food bank, campaigned for affordable housing as a community organiser (we secured 115 co-op homes), and volunteered in a night shelter. One guest asked to be woken at 5am to get to work. That stuck with me. A job—and still homeless. That crystallised a lot.
And with Labour, the clue’s in the name. Work should be fair and dignified. That’s why I’m proud the UK Labour Government is pushing the Employment Rights Bill.
But Labour’s also the party of social justice. I don’t want to just patch things up with food banks and shelters. I want to build a society where they’re not needed in the first place. Like every member, I want to make those things unnecessary.
As a Cooperative Party member too, I believe in real community power. From energy to land, we should be expanding community ownership—and making sure community benefit is felt widely and fairly.
You can read local endorsements here.
Labour.
Campaigner.
Putting our values into action.
We need Labour to be in power – at every level of government. I’ve been active in the party for years. I was Vice Chair for Campaigns & Membership and then Secretary in my previous CLP. I campaigned every week across D&G and Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale in last year’s election – on the doors and on the phones. And I’m now Campaigns Officer for Dumfries & Galloway Labour.
I’ve spoken with voters from Stranraer to Dumfries and everywhere in between. If selected, I would ensure we campaign across the region. I would want to play my part supporting members in the west of the region – listening to your advice, and working with you to campaign for Labour values.
You can read local endorsements here.
Fixing our roads.
One issue comes up more than any other: potholes. They’re dangerous, repairs are expensive, and they’re a daily reminder of crumbling public services after 14 years of Tory Government, 18 years of SNP Government, and Tories running our council.
So I did the work: I looked into how road maintenance is funded. It turns out the current funding model disadvantages 14 councils with single track roads – including Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders councils. This affects everyone in these councils – on living on single track roads and in towns alike – because road funding must be spread more thinly.
I wrote a policy motion calling for a fair funding formula. Local members backed it. Ruth Phoenix spoke on this at Scottish Labour Conference in February. And we won! Then I worked with councillors to take it to full council. And we won again.
That means even the Conservative council leader now has to lobby the SNP. We’re still waiting… but I’ll keep pushing. This is about fairness and cold hard cash for potholes in our region.
The next step is the Scottish Labour Policy Forum, where it will be considered for the 2026 manifesto. With your support, I’ll keep fighting to make that happen.
Borders Council is in the top five most disadvantaged areas in Scotland because of the policy. This is about fairness for our region and will bring our region more cash for roads.
You can read local endorsements here.
In the media.
Endorsements from our local party.
Dawn Renfrew, Wigtownshire Branch Chair
I’ve lived in Creetown for 15 years and I back Jack because I know he is dedicated to the best interests of this constituency and will fight for a better future for us. He has plenty of experience of campaigning and is a person of great integrity who I deeply respect.
Russell Brown, former MP
Having represented the region for 18 years as an MP, including Galloway & West Dumfries, I back Jack to be our next MSP.
Jack is a local and lives in Galloway & West Dumfries. Having represented our country internationally, he can bring that experience to represent our area in Holyrood. He knows the issues - from Stranraer to Dumfries and everywhere in between - and has Labour values to his core.
I back Jack and I urge members in both Galloway & West Dumfries and Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire to do the same.
Nick Chisholm, Member
Born in the region and with extensive knowledge of key local issues, he has the perfect blend of professionalism, knowledge and above all compassion, all the skills we desperately need in our MSPs.
Cllr Emma Jordan, Northwest Dumfries ward
As a councillor representing Northwest Dumfries, in Galloway & West Dumfries, I wholeheartedly endorse Jack to be our local candidate. I know his campaigning experience and genuine passion for his home will put Scottish Labour in good stead and make him and MSP for our area.
Angie Whitelaw, Dumfries & Galloway Secretary
Most importantly, Jack has the values, political savvy, work ethic and personal characteristics that will equip him fantastically well as a candidate and as a Labour MSP.
He's also a committed member and a good campaigner, getting involved in door knocking, fundraising activities and having intelligent, actionable local motions accepted (and voted for) at conference.
Val Williams, Policy Officer
I back Jack because he has made a significant contribution to the local policy consultation process, demonstrating his capacity to understand issues for Dumfries and Galloway. In addition he has evidenced his commitment to finding solutions and knows how to progress those ideas to result in positive change for our communities.
Cllr Linda Dorward
As a local Councillor, and as a former Prison Governor, I back Jack because he works hard and delivers. He's the local candidate we need for our region – he knows the issues and has a really genuine passion about getting things done. He's represented our country internationally will represent Galloway & West Dumfries strongly in Holyrood. Most importantly, he has Labour values to his core.
I back Jack and I hope both Galloway & West Dumfries and Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire members will too.
Colin Smyth MSP
South of Scotland Member of Parliament
As a South of Scotland MSP living in Dumfries & Galloway, I back Jack because he is local. He is a formidable campaigner and a committed member, and his work locally has brought the fair funding formula campaign to national attention. I know his background representing our country overseas would be a huge asset representing our area in Holyrood. He would be a fantastic Scottish Labour & Cooperative MSP.
I urge members in Galloway & West Dumfries and also in Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire to back Jack as the local candidate for Galloway & West Dumfries.
Stephen Shellard, Membership Officer
I have a long association with this area, and worked at Dumfries and Galloway College for over 25 years. I back Jack because of his ability to listen, to respond in a manner that considers a broad range of interests but, most of all, because of the obvious pleasure he takes in living in this area and meeting with the people who live here. I feel very confident that he will be a hard working, pragmatic and popular representative for Galloway and West Dumfries.
Katie Olley, Member
I can't commend Jack enough, he's extremely hard working and cares deeply about the area and its roads. He has a compassionate listening ear and is always willing to keep campaigning! He'd make an excellent Labour MSP.