A newly elected list MSP has announced she will remain a Motherwell councillor until the local government elections next year.
Conservative Central Scotland MSP, Meghan Gallacher, confirmed her decision on social media on Tuesday following her election to Holyrood over the weekend.
Ms Gallacher, who has served the Motherwell West ward since 2017, also confirmed she would be donating her council salary to North Lanarkshire based charities and that she will be stepping down as the Tory group leader within North Lanarkshire Council (NLC).
She said: “Following discussions with the Conservative Group on NLC, it will be my intention to remain in post until the local government elections in 2022.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Motherwell West ward and I feel it is right that I continue to help those who have approached me regarding local issues in my capacity as a councillor.
“In relation to my councillor salary, from today, I will be donating my wage to North Lanarkshire based charities.”
“I have been asked about my role as group leader and it is my intention to step down. We will hold a meeting over the next couple of days and a new leader will be announced.”
At the Holyrood election, the Conservatives again returned three Central list members, with incumbent MSP Graham Simpson being joined by Ms Gallacher and Stephen Kerr, the former Stirling MP.
Speaking to Lanarkshire Live following her election, Ms Gallacher said: “This result shows that the Conservatives are here to stay in this region.
“We always wanted to retain the three MSPs we had, and I’m absolutely delighted to get the increase that we did in vote share. I think this is the start of things to come.”
