TWO young Kilwinning men have been announced as the Labour candidates to fight it out in the 2017 snap General Election.

Christopher Rimicans, 18, and Nairn McDonald, 21, have been selected as the candidates for North Ayrshire and Arran and Central Ayrshire, respectively.

Christopher said: “It is a great honour to have been selected as the Labour candidate for North Ayrshire and Arran.

“North Ayrshire is my home and I am standing to give my family, friends and neighbours the strong voice that they deserve.

“Local people are being let down by an out of touch Tory Government and an SNP Government in Edinburgh more interested in stoking grievances than delivering change for the people.

Nairn spoke of his selection and said: “I am deeply honoured to have been selected to fight the Central Ayrshire constituency for Labour.

“In 2015 local people gave the SNP a chance. They believed them when they said they were ‘Stronger for Scotland’ but all we ended up with was a Tory Government.

“The fact is that voters at this election will face a clear choice between a Tory Government that will work for the rich or a Labour Government that will work for the many. The SNP cannot win the election and every vote for the SNP will help Theresa May back into Number 10. That is exactly what happened in 2015.

Both seats were previously held by Labour until the SNP landslide in 2015 when Patricia Gibson and Philippa Whitford stormed to massive majorities in both areas and they will be seeking re-election on June 8.

No other candidates have been announced to date.

Further reaction to the announcement in tomorrow's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.