George Jabbour, 33, has emerged as the surprise local candidate for the Scottish Conservatives at May’s general election.

Born and raised in the Syrian capital of Damascus, he spent 22 years of his life there before top grades in school and university earned him a coveted scholarship at Imperial College London.

His studies there after his move to the UK in 2004 led to a masters degree in finance.

A stint followed working in the City as an investment banker with global firm Goldman Sachs before Mr Jabbour went on to launch his own business in 2009.

He says his time in the financial sector opened his eyes to the way the public was being ‘taken advantage of’, prompting him to pursue a political career in a bid to do something about it.

Mr Jabbour, pictured, who gained British citizenship in December 2011, is currently living in Greenock and says he wants to help Inverclyde by boosting employment and tackling the district’s drugs problem and knife culture.

He said: “One of the key reasons I’m interested in Inverclyde is civil engineering.

“I spent five years studying it at university — that’s how I got a scholarship.

“James Watt is my hero.

“He is the cornerstone of all the achievements we have had over the last couple of centuries. He had a crucial role in forming civilisation as we know it today.

“Being selected as a candidate here is a privilege and an honour and if I was selected as MP I could say James Watt would have been a constituent.” The Tory hopeful, who also has a law degree from Lebanese University, is being supported by Gourock man Harry Osborn, former chairman of the local Conservative branch, and retired St Columba’s School teacher and party campaigner Pamela Wales, who lives in Greenock.

But he admits he he faces a huge challenge to gain ground ahead of May’s poll.

He said: “I recognise it’s a difficult task but I look forward to fighting the SNP and Labour.

“The SNP is divisive and looking to end the most successful union ever.

“It’s sad in the 21st century that Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond are trying to divide it.

“I know in Inverclyde people voted 50-50 in the referendum and I’m very passionate about fighting the incumbent Labour MP Iain McKenzie — Labour almost ruined this country.

“But under the Conservative government we have managed to turn around the country — 1,000 jobs per day have been created under this government in the last five years.

“I think it’s important we stick with the Conservatives’ long-term economic plan.

“I’ve worked in finance in countries like Portugal, France and the Caribbean and I have seen that when countries lose control of their finances how it impacts on the most vulnerable.

“It would be heartbreaking if this country found itself in the same situation.” Asked which issues would be at the forefront of his campaign, he said: “Local issues I’ve been hearing over the last couple of weeks — jobs is going to be a key priority.

“I want to get more local jobs and encourage investment from large corporate companies and encourage business set-ups.

“Drug addiction is another — we need to do more in prevention and rehabilitation — and tackling knife crime is something I’m also passionate about.”