Meet your General Election candidates: Paisley and Renfrewshire South

As the General Election approaches, we have collated a list of your candidates for the Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat.

Voting will take place from 7am to 10pm on July 4 and the people of this constituency are being given a chance to choose who will represent them in the UK parliament.

Alec Leishman - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Alec Leishman, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party candidate (Image: Supplied) Alec Leishman, who is a Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate, was elected to Renfrewshire Council in 2022 and is the depute group leader of the Renfrewshire Conservative group.

As part of his campaign for the upcoming General Election, Alec says that he will “relentlessly focus” on the “real priorities” of people living in his constituency.

He said: “This area needs a local champion at Westminster and I would fight every day for this area and relentlessly focus on the real priorities of Paisley and Renfrewshire South.

“I will focus on growing the economy and look to reduce the tax burden on hard-pressed constituents. I also want to boost Britain’s defence in these troubled times to ensure our nation is kept safe.

"Focusing on issues like this is in sharp contrast to the SNP, who have made it clear that they want to make this election all about their obsession with independence."

Athol Bond - Scottish Green Party

Athol Bond, Scottish Green Party candidate (Image: Supplied) Athol is your candidate for the Scottish Greens. They have worked in property and complaints management, which they say has made them aware of what needs to change, having worked in "some of the worst of the UK's housing sector".

Their main priorities include rent prices, tackling child poverty, and creating an energy grid that powers the country on clean renewables.

They said: "We are in a time of crisis, rents are at an all-time high, house building is at an all-time low, our rights to protest are being undermined, and energy companies are continuing to exploit our natural resources for private profit.

"We are one of the richest countries in the world, and yet food banks have seen a 94% increase over the last five years. The tax burden is higher than ever, and billionaires are not paying their fair share.

"I know we can build a better vision for Scotland. We can create a better future, where children do not go to sleep hungry, where our public services work for the public, an energy grid that powers our countries on clean renewables, and a welfare system that actually cares for the population. We can create harmony with our local environments, and protect our green spaces."

Jack Clark - Scottish Liberal Democrats

Jack Clark, Liberal Democrat candidate (Image: Supplied) Jack will be standing for the Liberal Democrats this election. He moved to Paisley in 2016 to study politics at the University of the West of Scotland and has decided to settle there. 

He will be campaigning to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, dependable jobs and infrastructure and a stronger, fairer UK.

Jack said: “Prices in the shops have skyrocketed, mortgages, rents, and energy bills are unaffordable, and people across Renfrewshire feel taken for granted. People here are crying out for better, and for a fair deal in our communities.

“Every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats is a vote for a fair deal. That means a local person listening to you, making sure the government-owned water company stops filling our rivers with sewage and fighting for investment in jobs and infrastructure that people can depend on."

Jacqueline Cameron - Scottish National Party (SNP)

Jacqueline Cameron, SNP candidate (Image: Supplied) Jacqueline is looking to be the new SNP MP to take over the constituency's previous seat held by Mhairi Black. She has been a councillor since 2017 and is currently the deputy leader of Renfrewshire Council.

She says that being a councillor and living in Kilbarchan means she knows "all too well" the issues that local people are concerned about. She wants to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, rising food and energy costs and mortgage costs.

Jacqueline said: "The cost-of-living crisis, rising food and energy costs, homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage, everyone has been affected. The challenges faced by our NHS are also a big concern for voters, and any move towards privatisation is something that I would vehemently oppose.

"The council and Scottish government can mitigate the worst of Westminster austerity, but it is simply not enough. I want to challenge the UK government on the political choices they have made and the priorities they think are more important than making sure children don’t go hungry. I want to get down there to continue my fight for a fairer Renfrewshire and a fairer Scotland.”

Jim McIlroy - Reform UK

Jim McIlroy, Reform UK candidate (Image: Supplied) Reform UK's candidate Jim McIlroy says being born in Paisley means he is passionate about Scotland and believes the existing political parties have failed the constituency.

He says his experience in local government will be used to improve public services, fix roads, deliver new housing, and invest in new jobs.

Jim said: "Economic growth has stopped in the last 15 years and, despite the highest taxes since 1948, public services like the NHS are broken. Our education system was once the envy of the world. I’m saddened there’s not enough social housing, that people can’t afford to heat their homes and many have to use food banks, even if they are working.

"Many people know me as a local campaigner who launched the Save the [Royal Alexandra Infirmary] campaign. Despite Renfrewshire Council doing nothing for years, it has now been saved and will be turned into a fifteen million pound development of 81 much-needed apartments in the South End of the town which I’m massively proud of."

Johanna Baxter - Scottish Labour Party

Johanna Baxter, Scottish Labour candidate with party leader Anas Sarwar (Image: Supplied) Johanna will be running as the Scottish Labour Party's candidate. She grew up in Saltcoats and was the first in her family to go to university where she became a union rep at 18 years old.

She says people "often underestimate" her but she has never been daunted by the challenge of fighting for basic rights.

Johanna said: “I have been in hundreds of streets, speaking to thousands of local people over the last few months. It is clear that people in Paisley and Renfrewshire South need and want change. 

"It was great to have Anas Sarwar in the constituency backing my campaign. I have been a Unison trade union official for many years standing up for and fighting for working people. 

"If elected, I will always stand up for local people and for Renfrewshire.”

Mark Turnbull - Freedom Alliance

Mark Turnbull, Freedom Alliance candidate (Image: Supplied) Mark stood for the Scottish Parliament in 2021 and had previously stood in the local council elections in Newton Mearns and Eaglesham. He is the only Freedom Alliance candidate in Scotland.

His party stands for freedom and came from an anti-lockdown movement during Covid-19. They are neutral on independence and Mark says he will stand against LEZ zones, the cost of petrol, the cost of living crisis and anti-globalisation.

He said: “Freedom Alliance came out of the lockdown movement. I remember listening to Nicola Sturgeon every day and no one could ask her a decent question.

“Someone asked her if she was aware of a group protesting lockdown. Then I went there and I've been going ever since.

“It is a freedom thing, we are against digital currency and freedom over health choices. I suppose we are anti-globalisation.

“We are non-LEZ. We want the freedom to travel and drive your car. The cost of petrol is going up too.

“I’m the only Freedom Alliance candidate in the whole of Scotland. The people of Paisley and Renfrewshire South are the only people who can vote for Freedom Alliance here.”

Paul Mack - Independent

The Gazette has been trying to get in contact with Paul for comment.