THE number of women on Inverclyde Council has more than doubled as seven secured seats at the election count on Friday.
Before voters hit the polls there were just three women on the council – the SNP's Elizabeth Robertson, Labour's Natasha McGuire and Independent Lynne Quinn.
All three regained their seats but they were joined by four others as the SNP's Kirsty Law, Pam Armstrong, and Sandra Reynolds all became elected members alongside Labour's Francesca Brennan.
The balance is now seven women to 15 men.
No party has won an overall majority on the council but Labour – who have run the council for the past five years as a minority administration – came out with the most councillors with nine, just ahead of the SNP who secured eight with the party making several gains.
It was a disappointing day for Alba in the region as Chris and Jim McEleny both lost their seats, with the former having been on the council since 2012 and the latter since 2017.
One ward, Inverclyde East, was uncontested and so Labour's Stephen McCabe, the SNP's Chirs Curley and Conservative David Wilson all knew in advance of Friday they had won back their spots in Greenock's municipal buildings.
The SNP's Jim MacLeod, Agnes McAuley, Jenn Scott-McClafferty and Irene McLeod all missed out on becoming councillors.
The region covers the towns of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock as well as villages such as Inverkip and Kilmacolm.
