Maurice Corry has been chosen as the Scottish Conservatives' candidate for the Dumbarton constituency at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

Mr Corry, who lives in Helensburgh, has been a list MSP for the party in the West Scotland region since 2016.

He was previously a councillor for the Lomond North ward on Argyll and Bute Council.

Mr Corry joins defending Labour MSP Jackie Baillie and SNP candidate Toni Giugliano on the ballot paper for next May's Holyrood poll.

Prior to entering politics, he served for 38 years in the regular Army and Territorial Army and commanded the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Territorial Army Unit in Argyll and Bute and Dunbartonshire.

During his time in the armed forces, he also served with the Black Watch with NATO in the Balkans and supported NATO forces in Afghanistan.

He was also the Conservatives' candidate for Dumbarton in 2016, but was beaten into third place behind Labour and the SNP.

Ms Baillie, who has been the constituency's MSP since the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999, retained the seat in 2016 with a slim majority of just 109 votes ahead of SNP candidate Gail Robertson.

Mr Corry finished third with 4,891 votes - 14.6 per cent of the total, and a 2.7 per cent increase on the party's share at the previous Scottish Parliament election in 2011.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been selected again to stand for the Scottish Conservatives in this seat.

"This is the constituency I am proud to call home and have been delighted to represent as an MSP since 2016 and I believe I have always put the needs of local people, businesses and communities first over this term of Parliament.

"As we rebuild from the Covid pandemic, we must ensure that we do everything we can to protect vital local jobs and livelihoods and ensure there are opportunities for people to make this constituency their home.

"While campaigning will undoubtedly be different, I'm looking forward to engaging with as many voters as possible and finding out about the issues that matter to them.

"The Scottish Conservatives, led by Douglas Ross, have a positive vision to rebuild our communities and put them at the heart of the decision-making process.

"Next year’s election is a chance to move on from the divisions of the past, which the SNP want to take us back to with yet another divisive independence referendum.

"A vote for me will be a vote to respect that referendum result and for a hardworking local MSP who will put the interests of this community first."