North Ayrshire Labour have announced that Mary Hume has been selected as the party’s candidate for the Kilwinning by-election on May 9.

The vote is being held following the death of Conservative councillor John Glover in February.

Prior to retiring in 2022, Mary enjoyed a 22-year career as a teacher in North Ayrshire, including five years as deputy headteacher at Kilwinning primary school St Luke’s, and 10 years as headteacher at St Mary’s Primary in Largs.

During that time, she served as the North Ayrshire branch secretary for her trade union, AHDS, the trade union that represents promoted teachers in Scotland.

Married to former PE teacher Joe Hume, Mary has two grown-up children, her son following his parents into teaching and their daughter working in the finance sector.

Highlighting the decision of the SNP administration on North Ayrshire Council to exclude Kilwinning from the council’s capital investment programme, Mary promised to be a champion for Kilwinning, and lead the charge against the SNP’s cuts to children’s education.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Labour's Kilwinning by election candidate Mary Hume

Mary said: “I am delighted to be selected as the Labour candidate and look forward to campaigning for a fair deal for Kilwinning alongside Donald Reid and Joe Cullinane.

“It is shocking that the SNP has locked Kilwinning out of the council’s capital programme. Kilwinning is North Ayrshire’s second largest town and to have no investment planned from now until 2031 is unacceptable.

"If I am honoured enough to be elected by the people of Kilwinning, it will be on a clear mandate to secure much-needed investment for the town.

“As a former headteacher, I will also provide a strong voice for parents and young people.

"A good education is the greatest tool available in tackling long-term inequality, economic opportunity, and poverty but after 17 years in power, the SNP have failed on it.

"With reducing teacher numbers, cuts already approved to school libraries and a planned reduction in early years, I will be a councillor who stands up for education, opposes cuts and demands investment in our children.”

Labour group leader Joe Cullinane added: "Mary brings a wealth of experience to our team as a former head teacher. She is a first-class candidate and will be an excellent councillor for Kilwinning.

"Donald Reid and I are looking forward to campaigning with Mary over the next few weeks and having another voice on the council demanding the investment Kilwinning deserves."

Voting will open for registered electors in the Kilwinning ward at 7am on Thursday, May 9, and polling places will remain open until 10pm.

The count, which is carried out electronically, will be held on Friday, May 10.

Residents have until midnight on Monday, April 22, to check they are registered to vote in the by-election.

The deadline to apply to vote by proxy or for postal applications is 5pm on Tuesday, April 23.