Mike Scott-Hayward (Independent)

Who is he?

An independent candidate for North East Fife.

Mike is 67, married with three adult children and four grandchildren. He was born in South Africa, and lives in Kemback Bridge, having stayed in the constituency for decades.

He owns a private pilot's license.

He has contested this seat twice before for the Conservatives, coming second both times.

Working life:

Mike served in the Royal Artillery for 17 years and was first elected as a Conservative Councillor in Crail in a by-election in 1987.

He also contested Dunfermline West in 1992, Edinburgh Central in 1997, and has twice stood in Kirkcaldy for the Scottish Parliament.

He then stood for UKIP in North East Fife in the 2010 UK and 2011 Scottish elections after quitting the Conservatives and becoming UKIP's Scottish chairman.

In October 1999, he won a Fife Council by-election in Elie, St Monans and Pittenweem and is still a serving Councillor.

He resigned, along with another five MEP candidates, amid a row over alleged 'dirty tricks' two years ago.

Mike is a watch officer with the coastguard, and he and his wife run a franchise business in the area.

Independent election pledges:

An independent Britain outwith the EU and represented only by the UK Government in international organisations like NATO, the IMF etc.
"Minimal" financial support for overseas aid and development.
Immigrant quotas set "when and if necessary" based on UK needs, refugees always treated as special cases.
Encourage free trade within the Commonwealth.
The power for people to recall (sack) their MP for not representing their interests.
Smaller Government - only create new laws when that is "the only solution".
Full energy mix led by nuclear, clean oil, gas and coal, tidal, solar, riparian power - also in favour of fracking.
HS2 company floated for public and private investment, and for high speed rail to extend to Scotland and Wales.
A choice between a 'Citizen Benefit' and a 'Tax Free Allowance' to encourage people into employment without "clawbacks" to their income.

About North East Fife

The constituency is the largest in Fife, in terms of landmass, it has a population of more than 75,000. St Andrews, Leven and Cupar are the largest towns.

St. Andrews is the home of golf, and along with the Old Course, features the town's University, which at 604, is the third oldest in the UK after Oxford and Cambridge.

The constituency contains 31 primary schools and four secondaries, which will reduce to three when Kirkland and Buckhaven merge.

Former MP Sir Menzies Campbell stepped down from his role after 27 years representing the area at Westminster. The Liberal Democrats are defending a majority of 9,048, he received 44.3% of the local vote in 2010. The Conservatives have finished second in every election Sir Ming has won, while the SNP gained the seat at the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections after 12 years of Lib Dem representation. Labour have traditionally finished third or fourth in this area.