THE starting pistol has been fired on ANOTHER election in Inverclyde – after the area’s newly elected Labour MP confirmed he will stand down from his council seat.

Martin McCluskey, who was elected as Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West’s new MP in the general election, has been a member of Inverclyde Council since he was elected to represent ward five in 2022.

But due to Labour Party rules preventing him from holding both posts, the area’s new Westminster representative will now have to step down from his role, which will trigger a by-election in the Gourock ward.

The Tele understands that several local parties have already begun sounding out potential candidates.

Alba Party General Secretary Chris McEleny, who has previously been a ward five councillor, appeared to suggest on Thursday night that he may contest the upcoming by-election.

The pro-independence politician, who stood for his party in the recent General Election, hinted at the move in his speech following the official declaration of results.

He said: “If you’re a Scottish independence supporter then decisions about the future of Scotland should be made right here in Scotland.

“It doesn’t matter whether we’ve got a Labour government or a Tory government, that’s why we fight and that’s why we stand in elections.

“We’ll fight every single election for a mandate for Scottish independence until we achieve Scottish independence.

“As a final point to Martin, it will not go as a surprise to you that I’m quite an expert on the Labour Party standing orders and I believe that the Labour Party standing orders mean that you will perhaps have to stand down from your role as a councillor.

“So to my hardworking team, I wouldn’t go on holiday too soon, because if there’s a by-election coming up then you’ll be sure that Alba Party will be fighting for every vote in it.”

Mr McCluskey took time after his election on Thursday to pay tribute to the people of Gourock and said it had been an ‘immense’ honour to work for them.

(Image: George Munro)

He added: “It’s been an immense privilege, and I was really heartened to see when the boxes were being tipped out tonight to see a really solid vote from constituents in Gourock.

“It has been an immense privilege to serve people in Gourock and that is still where I live.

“I’m going to be returning to my house in Gourock tonight and it will always be important to me and will always be the place that gave me, basically, my political start in elected office. I will always be appreciative of that.”

The Telegraph has contacted Inverclyde Council for comment about Mr McCluskey’s resignation and the timing of any upcoming by-election.