PROSPECTIVE Labour candidate Carol Mochan insists she WILL represent the party in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections of 2016.

Political pundits in national newspapers had claimed she might stand down following the Scottish Labour leadership elections.

Her confirmation that she will stand in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency comes days after it emerged that she had publicly backed Katy Clark in the deputy leadership election.

Ms Mochan and fellow candidate Lesley Brennan had sent a letter to MSPs warning them that the party was heading for 'surefire electoral defeat’ if they did not support Ms Clark.

However she has totally dismissed suggestions that she would withdraw as candidate.

She said: “I have never made any indication that I will not be standing.

“During the campaign there were many such letters sent, debates held, and discussions taking place, which all indicated that the people were looking for change within the party.

“I have always said that the leadership election was a good time to debate, and discuss what was best for the party and I attended both the Saturday and Sunday sessions and was very pleased to be there.” She continued: “There were three strong candidates for leadership, and two strong candidates for deputy leadership, but we must change to make sure that we remain a strong party.

“I will continue to campaign, as I always have, in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency, where we have two excellent MPs in Cathy Jamieson and Sandra Osborne.” Community activist Ms Mochan, a mum-of-two from Mauchline, grew up in the constituency and attended Girvan Primary School, then Auchinleck Academy before going on to work in the NHS.

She now runs a successful local business, is a director of Mauchline Burns Bairns, a community-based organisation providing children’s services, and was selected by the local Labour Party as its candidate in June this year.