INVERCLYDE’S Youngest Councillor Selected By Labour For Next ElectionINVERCLYDE Labour have selected sitting councillor Natasha Murphy as their candidate for the Inverclyde South Ward at May’s council elections.
The ward includes the Cowdenknowes, Bow Farm, Pennyfern, Grieve Road and Fancy Farm areas of Greenock as well as part of Larkfield and the housing estate next to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
Natasha (30) is currently Inverclyde’s youngest councillor and one of only three female members of the council. She has represented the Inverclyde South Ward since 2017 and is a vice-convener of the council’s education and communities committee as well as the council’s young people’s champion.
Natasha was born in Greenock and brought up in the Inverclyde South area where her family still live. She attended local schools and is a graduate of both Aberdeen University and the Open University.
She was a youth worker for a number of years and is currently employed in the Civil Service. She also lectures in business management at the Open University. Natasha lives in Greenock with her husband Dominic.
She volunteers in her local church using her skills from children and youth work. She is also a keen supporter of the Coves Nature Reserve.
Natasha said: “I am delighted to have been selected again by local Scottish Labour members. I have loved passionately advocating for those in our community less able to speak up for themselves over the past four years.
“It hasn’t always been easy but I believe that Inverclyde has continued to make progress during this period under Labour’s leadership.
“We have completed the renewal of our school estate and our schools continue to outperform their comparators in other areas of Scotland. We have overseen a massive expansion in early learning and childcare, supporting parents and helping children get the best possible start in life.
“Ongoing improvements have been made to our sport, leisure, community and outdoor play facilities. Hundreds of new affordable homes have been built across the area and we have made significant investment in upgrading our roads and street lighting.
“New business start-ups are at record levels and our employability programmes have supported many people into jobs.”
She continued: “We have expanded our anti-poverty initiatives to help families in immediate need and also to lift them out of poverty in the longer term. Benchmarked against other councils, Inverclyde delivers some of the best performing council services in Scotland.
“However I believe more change is needed to make Inverclyde an even better place to live, learn and work so everyone can enjoy their lives to the fullest. That’s why I’m asking to be elected again so I can continue to work for the people of our area, who throughout these Covid times have shown what a great community spirit we have in Inverclyde. We need to build on that spirit to address the challenges we face.”
Inverclyde Council Labour leader Stephen McCabe said: “I am really pleased that Natasha will again be our candidate for Inverclyde South Ward. As our youngest councillor she has championed the interests of children and young people and as a young woman she has brought a fresh perspective to our debates.
“She also fights to get the best for the people of Inverclyde South. We need people like Natasha on the council to ensure it is more representative of the community at large.”
