The Advertiser has invited General Election candidates standing to represent Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber to share their views on key topics to the area.

This week, it's all about the economy, and first up is Conservative candidate Amanda Hampsey. More to follow...

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Since being elected as a local councillor two years ago, I have relentlessly focused on trying to boost our local economy and secure fresh investment to drive economic growth and create new opportunities for people living and working here.

By ensuring Argyll and Bute Council developed a positive working relationship with the UK Government, we were able to secure £20 million of direct levelling up funding which will create a levelling up partnership between the council and the UK Government to look at driving even more investment.

That is in sharp contrast to the SNP government, who have slashed funding year after year to Argyll and Bute Council, while expecting us to deliver more for less.

That simply is not the reality, which was exposed when we were the first council in Scotland to declare a housing emergency.

All of this has a knock-on effect on our economy. It can already be more costly to build in rural and island areas.

If we do not have the resources to build houses, then we won’t attract people to come and make our beautiful region their home, which in turn leaves us with a shortage of workers in crucial public services.

Having lived and worked here all my life, I know first-hand the challenges that are facing our communities on a daily basis and how many rural residents feel abandoned by this SNP Government.

If you elect me on July 4, I will be a MP that fully focuses on your priorities like growing our economy, and bringing job security to Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, rather than a SNP MP who will only focus on independence.