Teacher selected to fight Renfrewshire North and West for Labour

Aug 11 2010 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

Stuart Clark

A RISING star in Scottish Labour has been selected to stand for the newly created Renfrewshire North and West seat.

Teacher Stuart Clark was picked to fight the seat during next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.

He will contest the new seat comprising parts of the former West Renfrewshire and Paisley North seats that have been held by Labour MSPs Trish Godman and Wendy Alexander respectively.

The 30-year-old from Paisley was chosen by party officials after current West Renfrewshire MSP Trish Godman decided to stand down next May.

And the new man admits he is proud to be given the chance to emulate the 71-year-old who has served as an MSP for a large part of his prospective consistency since devolution back in 1999.

Speaking to the Paisley Daily Express following his selection, Stuart said: “I am grateful for the encouragement and support local party members have shown and I am delighted to be Labour’s candidate.

“I am proud to be standing in the area which has been so well served by Trish Godman and Wendy Alexander over the years. I know Wendy will provide excellent representation for the new Paisley constituency and I wish Trish well in her retirement.

Born and brought up in Paisley, Stuart studied at Jordanhill College of Education and taught at Gryffe High School in Houston.

The first in his family to attend university, he concluded his probationary year teaching History and Modern Studies at a school in Hamilton.

Although he now teaches at Dunoon Grammar School where he is the Principal Teacher of Guidance, he and his wife Jennifer still live in Paisley.

And he insists his background has left him well placed to understand the value of public services.

He said: “We can see day in day out the impact SNP cuts are having on our local services like schools and hospitals.

“Here in Renfrewshire we have seen nursery and school closures, pupil to teacher ratios rocket to be among the worst in Scotland and alarm charges hiked up for the most vulnerable pensioners. From the youngest in our local community to the eldest the SNP and Lib Dems in Renfrewshire are letting people down.”

Yesterday we told how Renfrewshire Council leader Derek Mackay had been selected to stand in the Renfrewshire North and West seat by the SNP party.

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie has thrown her hat into the ring.

The Liberal Democrats have yet to declare their candidate.

The new constituency of Renfrewshire North and West covers Gallowhill, Renfrew, Erskine, Inchinnan, Bishopton, Houston, Bridge of Weir, Langbank, Quarrier’s Village and Kilmacolm.

He added: “I want to see strong, safe communities with excellent public services and increasing job opportunities. I promise to be a strong Labour voice that will always stand up for our local area.

“I’m already working hard locally with a strong team of MPs, councillors and party members campaigning across the new constituency speaking to people and listening to their concerns.

“I will not take anything for granted and will fight for every vote.”