A WEST Kilbride native and former Ardrossan Academy pupil has expressed his deep pride this week after being made a member of the House of Lords.

Iain McNicol, 48, was one of three members of the Labour Party nominated by leader Jeremy Corbyn to be nominated for a position in the chamber and the North Ayrshire man grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Iain, a father of two, was brought up in Thirdpart in the village and still holds deep affinity with North Ayrshire despite working and living down south.

Lord McNicol of West Kilbride, as he is now known, attended the House with his father Iain, wife Shelley, sister Natasha, brother Calum and children Hamish and Scarlett last week.

Iain worked as General Secretary of the Labour Party for nearly seven years and he spoke to the Herald and said: “I was given the opportunity to join the House of Lords and I will use it to fight for workers’ rights, housing and homelessness.

“I was introduced last week with my dad and the rest of the family and even though a week has passed, I am still getting lost.

“I’m from West Kilbride and things like this are not meant to happen to people like us. It was the support I got from all the family and then getting involved in politics that has gotten me here.

“This is a fantastic honour for me and for West Kilbride.

"I am proud of the whole community.”

He first joined the Labour party back in 1986 at a time of injustices in society with the miner’s strike, Thatcherism and the Poll Tax.

Iain added: “Society was being divided and this got me involved as I wanted to do something about it.

“I am back in West Kilbride on a regular basis. I just love walking along Portencross beach or just seeing family and friends.

"My heart is still in West Kilbride, hence the title.”