John Lamont has launched his campaign to beat the SNP and be re-elected as MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.
The Scottish Conservative candidate was joined by activists in Jedburgh for the launch event on Saturday.
Scottish Conservative candidate for the Scottish Borders, John Lamont, said: "This election is about beating the SNP and ending their obsession with independence so that all of the attention can be on the issues that really matter to local people.
"I've set out positive pledges to deliver for people who live locally, as I do, by creating more good jobs, reducing NHS waiting lists, fixing the roads, investing in schools, and improving broadband speeds. Those key issues are what I want the next five years to be all about and that's what I'll focus on if re-elected.
"But it will be really close here between me and the SNP candidate, as it always is in the Borders. Voting for any other party - or not voting at all - will risk an SNP win.
"If everyone who wants to beat the SNP comes together, I can once again keep the nationalists out here in the Borders, so that we can get the focus onto the top priorities of local people."