By Bill Heaney
Councillor Karen Murray Conaghan has been elected as West Dunbartonshire’s new Provost.
The Dumbarton councillor was appointed to the role at the beginning of a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council on Wednesday.
It follows the recent resignation of former Provost Douglas McAllister, who announced he would step down from the post after being elected as an MP for the area.
Although nothing has been said so far about the possibility of a by-election for his Labour-held seat in the Old Kilpatrick/Duntochar area.
The Provost is West Dunbartonshire’s civic leader, representing the Council and its communities at events throughout the year including during Remembrance Sunday.
As part of the role, Provost Murray Conaghan will also undertake duties on behalf of the Council including chairing Council meetings.
She succeeded Councillor Jonathan McColl, who has now quit the SNP, as leader of the SNP group on the council and was convener of the education committe in the last administration but one.
Speaking after her election, Provost Murray Conaghan, a former pupil of Notre Dame High School, said: “I am extremely proud to have been elected as the first female Provost for West Dunbartonshire.
“It will be a great honour to represent our communities and Council and I will work tirelessly for the people of West Dunbartonshire.”
Provost Murray Conaghan, whose husband is a solicitor, was elected as a councillor for the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2017 and has been the group leader since 2022.
Her parents, Irene and Ian Murray, are prominent members of St Patrick’s Church in Strathleven Place, Dumbarton. He is a retired SNP councillor and also an active campaigner for the Pro Life movement in Scotland.