THE man hoping to secure an SNP victory in Renfrewshire South at the forthcoming elections in May has launched his bid for glory.

Tom Arthur was joined by MPs Gavin Newlands and Kirsten Oswald in Johnstone’s Houstron Square on Saturday.

Born in Paisley in 1985, Tom was raised and educated in Barrhead where he attended Cross Arthurlie Primary and Barrhead High School.

He went on to the University of Glasgow where he completed a BMus (hons) and MMus.

Since graduating, Tom has worked as a company director, freelance piano teacher and keyboardist, performing across Scotland at a range of private and corporate events.

The 30-year-old said: “I was born and brought up in Barrhead as were five generations of my family.

“Originally I have a background in music and spent my time performing but after a while, I wanted to get involved in something different.

“I have always been politically minded as have my family, who have been involved in trade unions and my great grandfather was involved in organising the rent strikes in the 1930s.

“There have always been political discussions in the family and it’s always been something that I have spoken about and been engaged in.”

Tom first campaigned for the party during the 2007 Scottish Parliament Elections, joining the SNP in November 2009.

Tom was a member of the Renfrewshire South campaign committee in 2011 and in 2012 was election agent for two of East Renfrewshire’s SNP councillors.

He added: “I want to help the communities across Scotland become a better place to live in.

“I hope to bring a dialogue and conversation with Renfrewshire South, working together with civic groups and local communities.”