Inverness and Nairn Labour party announces winner of award in memory of party stalwart and journalist Bill McAllister
A young Nairn Labour party member is the first winner of an award in memory of a Scottish Labour stalwart.
William Campbell (24) has been announced as the first winner of the McAllister Award, set up by the Inverness and Nairn Labour Party in memory of well-known journalist and author Bill McAllister.
The award aims to encourage greater involvement with the party’s activities by funding one new member every year to attend Scottish Labour Party annual conference in Glasgow.
This year’s award winner William Campbell will attend Scottish Labour Conference this weekend (21 – 23 February) in Glasgow in the company of local delegate Councillor Michael Gregson and other members from the Highlands and across Scotland.
He received a certificate marking his award from Bill’s widow Bet McAllister, former Councillor for Inverness Central.
Bet McAllister said: “Bill was a Labour man through and through, and was much loved by party members across the Highlands.
“He always went out of his way to be welcoming and supportive to new members, and he would have been very proud of this award in his name. And I know he would have been very impressed by William as our first winner.”
William lives in Nairn and is currently president of the Highlands & Islands Student Association. Before taking up this sabbatical post, he was studying politics at UHI Inverness.
He joined the Labour Party in 2021 and has become increasingly active, particularly during the 2024 General Election when he put in long hours campaigning on the doorsteps in Nairn, and is now the local Labour Party’s Youth and Student Officer.
“I’m honoured to receive this award and I am looking forward to engaging further and learning more about the party at Scottish Labour Conference,” he said.
“I joined the Scottish Labour Party because I am passionate about working for meaningful social change, and supporting policies that align with my values of equality, fairness and community empowerment.
Councillor Michael Gregson said: “In a very short time, William has become a great asset to the local Labour Party, and I am thrilled to have his company at this weekend’s conference. He is smart, capable and engaging, and he is driven by a strong set of values based on equality and fairness.
“William represents the new generation of change Scotland needs and I am confident he has a great future in Labour politics in the Highlands and Scotland.”
