Helensburgh and Lomond councillors lose in West Dunbartonshire

Maurice Corry, a Conservative councillor for Lomond North and a former Provost of Argyll and Bute and past West of Scotland MSP, was his party's candidate in the 'next door' Westminster seat of West Dunbartonshire.

But he trailed in fifth, and lost his deposit, after polling just 1,474 votes - 3.7 per cent of the total, and a 10.5 per cent drop on his party's showing at the last election in December 2019. 

It was still enough to see him finish one place ahead of Helensburgh and Lomond South councillor Paul Kennedy, who contested the seat for the Liberal Democrats and finished sixth with 839 votes. 

That represented 2.1 per cent of the total, and was 2.1 per cent down on the party's vote share four-and-a-half years ago.

The seat was won by Labour's Douglas McAllister, currently Provost of West Dunbartonshire, who took 48.8 per cent of the vote. 

He unseated Martin Docherty-Hughes of the SNP, who polled 33.6 per cent.

Reform UK came third on 7 per cent and the Greens were fourth on 3.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, former Helensburgh resident Melanie Ward was elected for Labour to represent Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy with 45.7 per cent of the vote.

Former Hermitage Academy pupil Melanie Ward is Labour's new MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy (Image: Contributed)

She replaced the original Labour candidate for the Fife seat, who was removed for Tweets which described former First Minister Humza Yousaf as "first minister of Gaza".

Ms Ward unseated Neale Hanvey, formerly of the SNP but this time standing for Alba, who trailed a distant sixth place in the constituency on just 2.8 per cent of the vote.

The former Hermitage Academy pupil is chief executive of a charity providing medical help to people in Palestine.

Cllr Corry is in his second spell as a Lomond North councillor - with five years as a Conservative MSP for the West Scotland region in the middle, from 2017 to 2022.

 He was Provost of Argyll and Bute Council until a cut of cards in April removed him from office.

Cllr Kennedy was elected to represent Helensburgh and Lomond South for the first time in 2022.

Cllr Kennedy was elected to represent Helensburgh and Lomond South for the first time in 2022.

He told the Advertiser: "You will be aware that the candidate selected to represent Argyll and Bute in the General Election was Alan Reid. I did assist him locally in leaflet drops and signage. I can say and praise Alan for his tireless efforts to win the seat, travelling throughout the constituency. 

"While he did not emerge as winner, he did accumulate a substantial section of the votes and did contribute to the overall UK wide progress of the LibDems.

"Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber was one of the few Scottish LibDem target seats. I was asked if I would stand in a constituency that was not a target seat, I agreed, and selected my adjacent constituency, West Dunbartonshire. I know this area very well having policed, taught and travelled throughout the area.

"As such, I am only a LibDem Licensed Candidate having passed a short interview. I was only permitted limited activities in connection with the election and could not take part in hustings, canvassing, door-knocking, postal or other leaflet drops. 

"The inevitable occurred at the count I attended. It did however give the opportunity, for LibDem voters residing in West Dunbartonshire, to place an X on the ballot paper.

"I love this quote, 'One should always aspire to the limits of one's imagination' (Herman Hess, the writer). 

"I did enjoy going the election process despite having no chance of election. In order to progress, I would need to pass a more rigorous selection process to become an approved candidate. There are future elections to be decided so, we shall see."

Cllr Corry did not reply to a request for comment.