LAST week I had the pleasure of being in Greenock — not just to sample the ice-cream at the Orangefield Café — but to meet at the Albany Centre next door with some of the new talented and enthusiastic candidates standing for Inverclyde Council in May’s local election.

I’m pleased to announce that David Wilson, Iain MacLeod, Ian Bryson, Graeme Brooks, James Kelly and Dominic Jack will be standing as candidates for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party in Greenock.

It’s been five years since Scotland contested its local authorities, but this year’s local election is perhaps more important than any we’ve had since devolution. 

Not only are we campaigning for further influence in Inverclyde Council, we are also fighting to send a message to the SNP government in Holyrood who have given up listening to people at a local level.

Nearly three years ago 56 per cent of Inverclyde voted to remain in the United Kingdom. Instead of respecting that result, Nicola Sturgeon has spent the time between then and now pursuing a second vote on the issue instead of focussing on the day job of running Scotland.

The SNP-Green budget is also imposing cuts of £4.6 million on Inverclyde Council at the same time as hiking up council taxes, placing the financial burden of Scotland squarely on the shoulders of working families.

In local news, I have been questioning the Transport Secretary over the delay to a decision on the Gourock — Dunoon Ferry route.

I have been meeting with various ferry companies and chatting with user groups on this matter. 

I am keen to hear all views on it — I am nervous that the Scottish Government is looking to take this in-house without due consideration of all bids, offers and options on the table. 

At the end of the day we need a service which is reliable, affordable, regular, comfortable, safe and environmentally friendly. I will keep readers up to date on my progress.