Paul’s giving up his Ralston role for Westminster
Community council chair elected as East Ren MP
The chairman of Paisley’s Ralston Community Council has won a stunning victory for the Tories in the General Election.
Paul Masterton, 31, ousted sitting MP Kirsten Oswald, of the SNP, to romp home with 21,496 votes, compared to almost 17,000 for his rival in the East Renfrewshire seat.
Edinburgh-born Mr Masterton, who up to now has worked as a solicitor for a top law firm in Glasgow, was elected last year as chairman of the community council in the leafy area in the east end of Paisley.
Mr Masterton, who is married to Heather, whom he met while at university in Dundee, said: “I am absolutely humbled by my election and wish to thank all in East Renfrewshire who put their faith in me.
“Whether you voted for me or not, I will be a Member of Parliament working hard to improving the lives of all in East Renfrewshire and our local community.
“This was not just a freak election in East Renfrewshire, but a Scotland- wide revolt against the SNP’s independence obsession.
“The voters demanded it and now Nicola Sturgeon must act on it — no second independence referendum.”
The dad of two young children, who is an avid tennis fan, skier and runner, has been active in local politics in recent years, and was seen as a steady hand on the community council, although his appearances at it have been thin on the ground in recent months as he prepared his General Election campaign.
During his chairmanship of the community council, from which he will now resign as he heads for Westminster, Mr Masterton steered it through
I am absolutely humbled by my election Paul Masterton
the controversy over complaints of the noise and foul language coming from the St Mirren FC training ground in Allanton Avenue.
He also made a bid to overturn what he described at the time as the “disgraceful decision” by Renfrewshire Leisure to slash the opening hours at Ralston Sports Centre.