ARDROSSAN and Arran Councillor Peter McNamara has announced that he is stepping down as the leader of the North Ayrshire Labour Group.

After 29 years of public service as a Councillor, Peter has decided not to seek re-election at next May's council elections. Having made that decision he has decided to step down as Group Leader and allow a new leadership team to take the Party forward.

Peter announced his intention to stand down as Group Leader to his Labour colleagues a few weeks ago. An AGM was scheduled to take place on September 6 where a new leadership team would be elected by the Group. However, given the current situation with the SNP administration resigning, that AGM has been brought forward to this afternoon.

Councillor McNamara issued the following statement: "I am incredibly honoured to have served the people of the Three Towns as a Councillor for 29 years. I have served as part of a Labour administration and over the last four years have been privileged to lead the Labour Group. I am immensely proud of some of our achievements over the years and our ability to hold the SNP administration to account over the last four."

"I have thought long and hard about whether to stand next year and have decided that now is the right time for me to seek pastures new."

"I was planning to step down as Group Leader in two weeks time but given the urgency of the current situation facing the Council I have brought that forward. Later this afternoon the Labour Group will hold its AGM and a new leader will be elected. That leader will allow the Group to take a fresh approach as we face the challenges ahead."

"I want to thank everyone who has supported me over these 29 incredible years. I will continue to represent my constituents in Ardrossan and Arran right up until next May's election and I am ready to support the Labour Groups new leadership team in any way I can."