NEWLY re-elected MSP Jackie Baillie has vowed that the Vale of Leven Hospital remains her number one priority.

The Labour politician took her sixth straight win for the Dumbarton constituency for the Scottish Parliament on Friday night with an increased majority from five years ago.

Dumbarton was the top target for the SNP this year after Ms Baillie’s narrow 109-vote victory in 2016.

But despite more than one visit by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to the area, Ms Baillie increased her majority over the SNP’s Toni Giugliano to 1,483 and with a bigger turnout from voters.

Ms Baillie said the Vale would be her top priority beyond the wider recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

She told the Reporter yesterday: “The Vale is an absolute asset that’s absolutely under-utilised.

"My number one priority is the Vale of Leven - always has been, always will be.

“We need a concerted effort to bring services back.

"We can get more emergency services back at the Vale.”

The MSP said she would work with local GPs and campaigners to find what services can be brought to area, particularly using the facility to help tackle cancer diagnosis waiting lists made worse by the pandemic.

She said she wants to see more diagnostics and more treatment at the Vale.

Ms Baillie won 17,825 votes - the largest number of votes she’s received in six elections and, at 46.3 per cent, her biggest share of the vote.

Mr Giugliano got 16,342 votes for the SNP, while Maurice Corry was third for the Conservatives with 3,205.

Andy Foxall polled 676 votes for the Liberal Democrats, while James Morrison was the leading independent with 183.

Jonathan Rainey of the Scottish Libertarian Party polled 134 votes, with the second independent, Andrew Muir, trailing in last place with 94.

Ms Baillie said her win was a surprise and she didn’t know which way the result would go until candidates were pulled to a side room just before the public announcement.

She said: “It was always going to be close and certainly the SNP threw everything at the seat.

"I’m truly delighted people backed me in the numbers they did.

“I cannot begin to thank the constituency enough.

"I’m so proud to represent the area.”