A Labour politician has claimed a shocking by-election victory – against Nicola Sturgeon’s father.
Louise McPhater won the Irvine West Council seat last night after claiming a narrow victory against Robin Sturgeon.
Ms McPhater – who won the seat in the First Minister’s home town – currently serves as the manager of a local community centre.
She won the election after securing 1029 votes and eventually securing victory at stage 6 after other candidates dropped out and secondary votes transferred to her.
Mr Sturgeon, who won more ‘first preference’ votes at 1164, claimed after his defeat that the ‘Labour-Tory alliance’ was “alive and well” in the area.
Ms McPhater said voters had backed her personal approach throughout the campaigning process.
She told the Daily Record: “They’ve obviously had the faith and they’ve listened and that’s all I could have done – went to their doors and asked and related to them.
“A lot of people are disengaged and have no faith and I think people have had enough and on top of that the real issues weren’t being dealt with.
“I think that my background is communities and how i can speak to people, relate to people, help them – that’s the most satisfying thing about it for me.
“I want people to feel more empowered and making them realise that they have the voice, you have the power – it’s just got to come out.
“But the public have put their faith in me and I can’t thank them enough.”