Patricia Gibson, SNP MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, has been overwhelmingly endorsed by local party members to stand again as the party’s candidate in any upcoming UK-wide General Election.

Across North Ayrshire and Arran constituency, in a secret ballot the 1,587 eligible SNP members chose to select Mrs Gibson unopposed, should there be a General Election.

Speaking after her selection was confirmed, Mrs Gibson said: “I am delighted to have received the solid support of local members to stand again as the SNP candidate here in North Ayrshire and Arran.

“Representing this area these last four years has been a great privilege and I look forward to the challenge of another election campaign once the threat of a no-deal Brexit on October 31 has been defeated.

“The Prime Minister is haplessly trying to drag us out of Europe with no deal in an attempt to stave off the electoral threat of the Brexit Party south of the border. For my part, I will do everything I can to stop him, or any other UK Prime Minister, from imposing policies on Scotland that damage our economy and threaten the welfare of those who live here.

“Given the UK Tory Government’s descent into chaos, it is astounding that the Labour Party is struggling to find candidates.

“The ongoing scrap over Labour’s Brexit position of desperately trying to appeal to those who voted to leave the EU by promising a better exit deal, while simultaneously promising remain voters to campaign against that deal in a confirmatory referendum, has clearly demoralised the remnants of the party in Scotland.”