TRIBUTES have been paid to former East Renfrewshire MP Allan Stewart.

The Conservative stalwart died last week at the age of 74.

Mr Stewart is credited with having a massive influence in ensuring that East Renfrewshire remained independent of Glasgow when council boundaries were redrawn in the 1990s.

He served as a MP for 18 years, first for East Renfrewshire and later for Eastwood, serving as a junior minister in what was then the Scottish Office under both Margaret Thatcher and her successor John Major.

Late in his career, it emerged that he had a serious alcohol problem and he hit the headlines after a court appearance and a stint in Paisley’s Dykebar Hospital.

Mr Stewart, who stood down as a MP shortly before the 1997 General Election, was a member of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and several of the creatures could be found at his countryside home outside Neilston.

Paying tribute to Mr Stewart, Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw, who represents Eastwood at Holyrood, said: “Allan had a considerable influence on policy during the era of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

“It was thanks to Allan that Eastwood remained outside of Glasgow during local government reorganisation, instead becoming part of the new East Renfrewshire Council.

“At the 1992 General Election, Allan achieved the largest swing to the Conservatives by any incumbent MP anywhere in the UK, something of which he was immensely proud, before retiring, undefeated, in 1997.”

East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald said she was saddened to hear of Mr Stewart’s death.

She added: “My thoughts and deepest sympathises are with Allan’s family and friends at this sad time.”

Mr Stewart is survived by his wife of 43 years, Susie, as well as son Jack and daughter Rosa.