THE leader of the Alba Party at Holyrood paid a visit to Gourock this week ahead of the upcoming Inverclyde West by-election.

Ash Regan MSP visited Kempock Street with the party's Gourock by-election candidate, Chris McEleny.

Mr McEleny, who previously represented the town for 10 years, has been campaigning to reduce household bills for people in Gourock and against the decision to end universal entitlement to the winter fuel payment.

Voters in the ward will go to the polls on November 7 to replace former councillor Martin McCluskey, who stood down after his election to Westminster in July as the Labour MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West.

Ms Regan said many business owners had expressed concerns about the lack of focus on the issues that really matter to the people and businesses there.

She said: "It was great to visit Gourock to support Chris McEleny.

"Chris's intent to reduce council tax by five per cent, and his fully funded plan to protect the pockets of the town's pensioners, show a candidate who can be trusted to listen to the electorate and focus on solutions that positively change their lives.

"People we spoke with were clear that they have had enough of the local Labour council's attempts to impose sky-high council tax hikes on them year on year with little to show for it.

"Compounded with the new Labour government's reckless abandonment of pensioners this winter, with thousands losing out on their relied upon winter fuel payments, the change many increasingly want to see is the back of Labour.

"Chris has a track record of championing the provision of universal free school meals in Inverclyde and is the only candidate on November 7 with a real plan and the commitment to protect the pockets of Gourock's hard-pressed households."

Mr McEleny added: "It was great to have Ash travel through to support my campaign.

"We had very productive conversations with many local people and businesses, and it's clear that the ongoing attacks on livelihoods and people's incomes must stop."

Mr McEleny is one of five candidates in Inverclyde West: the others, in alphabetical order, are John Burleigh (Reform UK), Ian Hellyer (Labour), Robert Kirkpatrick (SNP), and Ted Runciman (Conservative).