West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister: "It was a lifetime ambition to be MP"

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Labour’s Douglas McAllister says the hard work begins now as he promised to deliver the change the people of West Dunbartonshire want after a resounding win.The newly elected MP swept up during a tense night at the count in Clydebank Leisure Centre after winning 19,312 votes – crushing the SNP’s 9,553 majority in 2019’s last general election.Martin Docherty-Hughes, who had served as the area’s MP for the past nine years, came second with 13,302 votes.The West Dunbartonshire turnout was down 10 per cent on 2019 with 57.5 per cent of the electorate using their vote.It came as Labour won a thumping landslide majority across the UK with Keir Starmer receiving the keys to No 10 and becoming the UK’s new Prime Minister.Douglas’ victory marks the constituency’s return to Labour representation in Westminster, with West Dunbartonshire previously a safe Labour seat for decades.Rapturous applause filled the gym hall from Douglas’ campaign team as the results were announced just before 3am on Friday morning.And the new MP, who is currently West Dunbartonshire Council’s Provost having served as a local councillor for 21 years, was clearly thrilled and emotional after his stunning victory, telling the Lennox becoming a member of parliament had been a “lifelong dream”.He said: “I’m ecstatic, over the moon.

I’m so pleased.“It’s always been my lifetime ambition to represent West Dunbartonshire at Westminster level and I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to realise my dream to do that.“I’ve had a fantastic team, just an incredible team of volunteers who have been so supportive and I’m also delighted for them.“It’s been a long 18-month campaign.