
FORMER Bo’ness Community Council chairman Len Ainslie has been selected as the Scottish Labour Party candidate for the forthcoming Bo’ness and Blackness By-Election.
Mr Ainslie is the current chair of the local Area Forum and serves on a wide variety of community groups.
The contest – to be held on November 19 – follows the death of veteran SNP Councillor Harry Constable, one of three councillors in the multi-member Bo’ness and Blackness Ward.
Mr Ainslie, who lives in Marchlands Terrace, Bo’ness is married to Margaret. The couple have a grown-up son, Scott, and two small grandchildren.
Mr Ainslie was unanimously selected by party members at a meeting on Sunday night.
He said: “I’m delighted to be selected as the Labour candidate for the forthcoming by-election. I’ve worked hard for the community over many, many years and hope the people of Bo’ness and Blackness can give me their support on November 19.
“If elected, I will make sure their views are fully heard within the corridors of Falkirk Council.”
The former businessman ran a shop in Bo’ness town centre for many years and was a past chair of the then local merchants’ association.
As a justice of the peace, he served on the bench of Falkirk District Court for a decade and was also employed as a director of the Bo’ness Development Trust – which took part in some of the early regeneration projects around the historic town centre.
More recently, he became chairperson of the Falkirk Area Licensing Forum and is also the current chair of the Bo’ness Area Forum – a regular meeting which allows local people to air their views and question Falkirk Council.
Mr Ainslie has also served on Bo’ness Community Council for the past 20 years, including a spell as chairman. He was re-elected to the community council just a few weeks ago.
He is currently a member of a wide variety of community groups including the Bo’ness Development Group – which scrutinises the ongoing work in the town centre and foreshore – the Bo’ness Safety Group and the Bo’ness Fair Executive Committee.
The area’s Labour MSP, Cathy Peattie, said: “Len’s wide range of experience stands him in good stead to be an excellent Labour councillor for Bo’ness and Blackness. We want someone with a strong commitment to the community who will fight hard for the town. Len certainly fits that bill and I wish him every success in the forthcoming by-election.”
Local MP Michael Connarty added: “Len will give Bo’ness a real boost as a local councillor. He has worked tirelessly in many voluntary roles, speaking out through the community council and giving years of service to the Children’s Fair Festival.”
The area’s existing Labour councillor, Adrian Mahoney, said: “Len could make a great addition to the Labour-led administration running Falkirk Council. He isn’t afraid to speak out, or ask challenging questions, and would be an excellent representative for the town. I hope local people will give him their full support.”