A FORMER senior Inverclyde Labour councillor has switched her allegiance after coming out in support of the Conservatives.

Yvonne Robertson, who served as a regional councillor prior to becoming an Inverclyde councillor in 1995, has crossed the divide and pledged her support to the Scottish Tories and leader Ruth Davidson.

Mrs Robertson, a former local authority business convener, moved to Dunoon a number of years ago.

She served as a Labour councillor until losing her seat at the 2003 election to the late Eddie Gallacher, of the Liberal Democrats.

But in a Twitter message posted by the Scottish Conservatives, alongside a photo, above, Mrs Robertson gave her overwhelming backing to the party ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May next year.

She said: “I used to support Labour but now I’m backing the Scottish Conservatives.

“Instead of all this talk of a second referendum, it is Ruth who wants to take on a practical attitude when it comes to the important things like pensions and jobs.

“If voters want a competent, forward-thinking Scotland, then it’s Ruth’s Conservative approach which is the most desirable. I back Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Conservatives.” Inverclyde Council and local Labour party leader Stephen McCabe gave a scathing response to the tweet. Councillor McCabe said: “Not been active for years. Lost her seat in 2003 due to complacency. That is being kind...”