A DOON Valley councillor has been chosen to fight the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock seat for Scottish Labour at the next UK general election.

Elaine Stewart was "overwhelmingly" chosen by local party members to take on the SNP's Allan Dorans, who is aiming to win a second term representing the area.

The next Westminster election must be held by January 2025 at the latest, though it's widely expected that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will opt to go to the polls some time this year.

Ms Stewart has represented the Doon Valley ward on East Ayrshire Council since May 2022, having previously stood in the ward without success in the 2017 local authority elections.

Announcing her plans to run for the seat, Ms Stewart outlined her work history with over 30 years in community projects within the third sector, alongside a wealth of experience working in partnership with the NHS, local government and social care. 

She said: “It is such an honour to have been selected by local party members to be the Westminster candidate for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock. 

"I am looking forward to campaigning in every part of the constituency. 

"I will be working hard for every vote; I want to listen to all constituents no matter how they have voted in the past. 

"I want to listen and be trusted to stand up for our communities. It is time for change, and it is Labour who can deliver that change we all need."

Mr Dorans captured the seat from the Conservatives in 2019 with a majority of 2,329 votes over Tory candidate Martin Dowey, now the leader of South Ayrshire Council.

Mr Dowey will again be the Scottish Conservatives' candidate next time around.

The Westminster seat - which was formed in 2005 as a result of the redrawing of constituency boundaries  - has been held by all of Scotland's three largest political parties in its 19-year lifespan.

Labour's Sandra Osborne represented the area for 10 years before losing out to the SNP's Corri Wilson in the SNP landslide of 2015.

Two years later, Bill Grant won the seat for the Conservatives, only for Mr Dorans to wrest back control for the SNP in December 2019.