LABOUR candidate Carolann Davidson insists she will stand up for local residents on all issues...even if they come to her with problems beyond her remit.

Currently serving as a councillor in Paisley, Ms Davidson believes there is no reason East Renfrewshire’s MP can’t get involved in devolved matters such as health, despite this falling under the jurisdiction of the area’s MSPs. 

For instance, she has stressed that, if she had been local MP at the time, she would have fought the closure of a sick kids’ ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley. 

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“Whether it is devolved or not, as an MP I would be fighting for local issues,” she told the Barrhead News. 

“With the closure of the children’s ward, Mhairi Black (Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP) sat back and said ‘it’s nothing to do with me, it’s devolved.’ 

“I would have absolutely fought against the closure. Douglas Alexander (former MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South) did.

“I will fight tooth and nail to save these services.” 

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The Labour woman has further promised to protect school places in East Renfrewshire for people living in the area, although education is also devolved. 

“We do have excellent schools but we need to really scrutinise applications,” she said. “The boundaries are there for a reason.”