LABOUR saw off their rivals and held on to their Gourock council seat as their candidate came out on top in the Inverclyde West by-election.

Ian Hellyer became Inverclyde West’s newest councillor after seeing off his SNP, Conservative, Alba and Reform UK rivals in yesterday’s poll to emerge victorious.

Mr Hellyer secured 932 'first preference' votes, with the SNP's Robert Kirkpatrick on 923, Ted Runciman for the Conservatives on 415, Alba Party candidate Chris McEleny on 239, and John Burleigh for Reform UK on 230.

Under the proportional voting system used in council elections, Mr Hellyer was elected at stage five of the counting process.

His win means Labour have held on to the council seat which was previously vacated by Labour’s Martin McCluskey earlier this year following his election as Inverclyde’s MP.

Labour now holds eight seats on Inverclyde Council, two more than their nearest rivals the SNP, whose tally was reduced from eight to six in recent months due to councillors Kirsty Law and Innes Nelson quitting the party.

Scottish Labour won nine seats in the 2022 council elections, but their total is currently eight due to the temporary suspension of council leader Stephen McCabe from the party.

Ian Hellyer has been elected to represent the Inverclyde West ward. (Image: George Munro)

A total of 2,739 votes were cast, a turnout of 31.4 per cent.

Councillor Hellyer announced his candidacy at the start of October, vowing be a voice for Gourock residents, invest in the town’s coastline and green spaces and work to regenerate Shore Street.

The father-of-three also said he would like to see a more visible community policing presence in the area.

The 65-year-old served for 30 years in Strathclyde Police with 12 of those spent in community policing in Gourock, before becoming a local driving instructor and examiner.

Speaking to the Telegraph last month, councillor Hellyer said Gourock had always been a ‘big part’ of his life and was full of praise for the town.

His campaign to become Gourock’s newest councillor received backing from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who made several visits to the town throughout the by-election campaign to show his support for the candidate.

Councillor Hellyer joins SNP politician Sandra Reynolds and independent councillor Lynne Quinn as an Inverclyde West elected member.