THE SCOTTISH National Party has announced who will stand against Katy Clark in the battle for the North Ayrshire and Arran Westminster seat.

And it will be rematch of 2010 with Patricia Gibson, wife of local MSP Kenneth, taking the mantle for the Nationalists.

Mrs Gibson was chosen by the local members of the party last Wednesday and has a majority of just less than 10,000 to try and overturn if the SNP is to have any chance of picking up this seat for the first time ever.

She was chosen from an initial list of seven nominees but shortly before voting closed it was announced that John Nicholson had been chosen by the SNP to stand in East Dunbartonshire and Gary O’Rourke withdrew due to ill health.

Commenting after the result was announced, Mrs Gibson said: “I am delighted that local members have again put their trust in me to be the SNP candidate in May and I’m looking forward to taking the SNP’s positive message to the people of North Ayrshire & Arran.

“If I’m elected in May I will always stand up for local people and will fight for Scotland to secure the extensive powers needed to transform Scotland into a fairer, more prosperous and equal society, whilst opposing unfair Westminster policies like the Bedroom Tax and the moral and economic absurdity of spending £100bn on Trident renewal.

“Given Labour’s twisting and turning over policy in recent months, I am surely not alone in wondering what Labour nationally and locally stand for. The people of North Ayrshire & Arran have a right to ask?

“I challenge Labour MP Katy Clark to debate with me across this constituency in each and every community, any issue that local people wish to put to either of us. My agent will happily meet with Ms Clark’s to discuss dates, times and venues. I hope, in the interests of democracy and providing clarity, she will accept.” Patricia added: “I campaigned with Nicola Sturgeon in Saltcoats back in 2010; I know her as a doughty fighter and I look forward to campaigning with her again soon. In this election the SNP will make sure Scotland’s interests are promoted at every turn.

“With Labour and the Tories joined at the hip for two years leading to the referendum and voting together last month for a further £30 billion in cuts, electing a strong team of SNP MPs will mean that the people of Scotland can vote to get rid of the Tories, stand up to austerity economics and make the Westminster parties stick to their vow and deliver real home rule to Scotland.”