SELKIRKSHIRE councillor Michelle Ballantyne has been selected by the Conservatives to contest the Westminster parliamentary seat of Midlothian in next year’s General Election.

The mother of six, who lives at Sunderland Hall near Galashiels, is currently leader of her party’s opposition group on Scottish Borders Council having been elected in 2012.

In February, Mrs Ballantyne, who is a youth addiction counsellor and a director of her husband’s Walkerburn-based figurine manufacturing firm, was shortlisted to become the Conservative candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, but lost out to local MSP John Lamont.

She admits she faces a daunting task in Midlothian with Labour’s David Hamilton defending a 10,349 majority. In 2010, the Conservatives took just 11% of the vote and trailed in fourth behind the SNP and the Lib Dems.

“It’s a safe Labour seat, so I won’t be heading to Westminster anytime soon,” Mrs Ballantyne told the Border Telegraph.

“However, it is a great opportunity to learn the ropes of managing a large campaign.

“I’m delighted to be selected and hope I can contribute positively to the debate in Midlothian.

“It will, however, not distract me from my duties in the Borders and the need to ensure the current administration at SBC is challenged on its decisions.”