Gurpreet Singh Johal (left), the Labour candidate for Dumbarton, with his brother Jagtar.
By Bill Heaney
West Dunbartonshire Constituency Labour Party have announced their candidates for Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and Balloch in the upcoming local council elections due to take place in May.
Three currently sitting Labour members will stand for re-election with two former councillors, both of them women, again looking for public support at the polls.
There is just one big surprise in the Labour candidate list, which is otherwise short of any new faces or young blood which would lower the age profile of their local politicians.
Bearded Gurpreet Singh Johal, brother of Jagtar Johal, the Oxhill man currently being imprisoned by government authorities in India, has thrown his turban into the ring to become the only Sikh councillor in Scotland.
Mr Singh will stand for election in the Dumbarton ward, which covers the town centre and stretches out to Barloan, alongside veteran Labour councillor and former group leader David McBride.
In the Leven ward,which takes in Renton and part of Alexandria, former deputy provost John Millar will stand for Labour alongside Michelle McGinty who, as former education committee convener, was involved in the bitter row about the siting of the new Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in Bellsmyre.
No agreement between the Dumbarton and Clydebank branches of the Labour party would appear to have been reached yet over who will wear the Labour rosettes in the Old Kilpatrick/Clydebank area.
Labour candidates Martin Rooney, David McBride, Michelle McGinty (with former education director Terry Lanagan) and former deputy provost John Millar.
In Lomond ward, former Labour council leader Martin Rooney, who failed to cover himself in glory when – despite a powerful protest from the Community Party – he backed the official line not to pursue further corruption allegations against senior council officials.
Cllr Rooney and his fellow candidate David McBride were on the wrong side of the battle over the siting of Our Lady and St Patrick’s at Postie’s Park, which was dropped after a public protest against the idea.
Duncan Robinson, Secretary of the West Dunbartonshire Local Government Committee said: “I am delighted to present the candidates for the three wards covering Dumbarton, the Vale and Balloch.
“There is a wealth of experience among this group of candidates and a willingness to deliver real change and opportunity to local people.
“This current SNP-led administration has dragged its heels on major projects and failed to make any real impact over the last five years.
“I believe this group of councillors will work tirelessly for constituents and ensure these towns and villages recover stronger than ever as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.”
The local council elections take place on Thursday, May 5.