John Beare has lived in Markinch since 1998 and has represented the area as a local councillor since 2006.

Full statement

He was elected to Fife Council in a by-election with a 30% swing from the incumbent Labour Party. He has had several leadership roles at the Council since 2007, including terms as Convener of the Standards and Audit Committee and the Planning Committee. He is currently an opposition member of the Cabinet regularly challenging the Labour/Tory/Liberal coalition that runs the Council, while also providing practical solutions to issues facing communities across Fife. He is also the Fife SNP Group Business Manager.Since 2015 John has been Office Manager for Peter Grant, the outgoing MP for Glenrothes, having previously worked for an MSP. Prior to this he had a long career in commercial construction, aiding the construction of schools, hospitals, television studios, factories and clean rooms across these islands.John has held many roles in the SNP including as Organisation Convener of the Party, a member of the National Executive Committee, Convener of the SNP Candidate Assessment Committee, Agent for the SNP for several elections and most proudly as the Yes Scotland Agent for Fife in 2014.John has a long political CV, strong local knowledge, experience of Holyrood and Westminster, and a history of hard work and complete dedication to realising Independence for Scotland.