First Minister John Swinney visits Paisley as General Election candidates confirmed

First Minister John Swinney was welcomed to Paisley at the weekend.

The First Minister joined the Paisley and Renfrewshire South candidate for the General Election, Jacqueline Cameron, and a group of SNP activists on the steps of the Coats Memorial Church where he talked to supporters and the media before moving on to the Made in Paisley studio and gallery.

Caroline Gormley, artist and gallery owner, hosted the First Minister’s visit and showed him exhibits from her work and introduced him to the children attending her art classes and showed him their paintings. She also gifted him a Made In Paisley hoodie.

Paisley and Renfrewshire South candidate, Ms Cameron, said: “What a pleasure to have the First Minister visit Paisley. He spent so much time chatting with supporters, then at Made In Paisley, he talked to Caroline about the importance of art in our wellbeing.

“The children at the art class were excited to talk to him about their paintings and how much they enjoyed the class.”

Meanwhile, the candidates have been confirmed in the four constituencies representing Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire after nominations closed on Friday.

Johanna Baxter – the current head of local government at Unison Scotland – is standing in Paisley and Renfrewshire South as the Labour candidate for the seat of the outgoing SNP’s Mhairi Black.

Jack Clark will stand as the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Paisley and Renfrewshire South constituency. Alec Leishman is the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Paisley and Renfrewshire South.

On the ballot for the Greens will be Athol Bond and an independent candidate is Paul Mack. James McIlroy is standing as the constituency’s Reform UK candidate whereas Mark Turnbull represents Freedom Alliance.

Meanwhile, Alison Taylor has been selected as the Labour candidate in Paisley and Renfrewshire North where the SNP’s Gavin Newlands is trying to hold on to his seat.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate David McGonigle will also be fighting for the seat. The Liberal Democrats candidate is Grant Toghill while the Greens candidate is Jennifer Bell. Andrew Scott will also be on the ballot as the Reform UK candidate.

Martin McCluskey will stand as the Labour candidate in the newly-formed constituency of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West where there will be eight candidates contesting the seat. Ross Stalker will be on the ballot for the Lib Dems.

John Burleigh will be on the ballot as an independent candidate. Ronnie Cowan will represent the SNP while Iain Adams Hamilton is the candidate for the Scottish Greens.

Christopher William McEleny is the candidate for the Alba Party: Yes to Scottish Independence, Simon Charles Wheeler Moorehead represents the Reform UK party and Ted Runciman has been selected as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate.

For the East Renfrewshire constituency, Kirsten Oswald will fight to retain her SNP seat while Karen Sharkey will be on the ballot for the Scottish Greens. On the ballot for the Lib Dems is Alan Grant while Matt Alexander is the Reform UK candidate.

Sandesh Gulhane is the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate while Blair McDougall is the candidate for the Scottish Labour Party.

Maria Reid represents the Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life; Allan Steele is down for The Liberal Party and Colette Walker will contest on behalf of the Independence for Scotland Party.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, July 4. You have until 11.59pm on Tuesday, June 18 to register to vote. You have until 5pm on Wednesday, June 19 to apply for a postal vote.

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