Councillor joins SNP deputy leadership race

. An SNP councillor has joined the race to become the party’s deputy leader.

Chris Mceleny, who leads the SNP group at Inverclyde Council, becomes the fourth candidate to put their name forward.

The deputy leader position became available when Angus Robertson stepped down in February, months after losing his Moray seat to the Tories.

The other candidates standing are Economy Secretary Keith Brown, Glasgow MSP James Dornan and Julie Hepburn.

Ms Hepburn has worked for a number of senior figures in the SNP including Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Perth MP Pete Wishart.

Mr Mceleny said he would be putting communities at the heart of a new case for independence.

He said: “It is up to each and every one of us to make the case for independence and build a new case to deliver independence in our time.”