East Renfrewshire’s new MP Blair McDougall has revealed the moment he felt he and his team were on the verge a “special” General Election win.

The former head strategist for the Better Together campaign during the 2014 independence referendum swept to victory last Thursday, taking 43.7% of the vote.

Mr McDougall took East Renfrewshire from the SNP as his party won dozens of seats in Scotland on a disastrous night for the nationalists.

Mr McDougall told the Barrhead News: “It was only on the very last door knocking session on Thursday evening that it felt like my team and I were on the verge of something really special and it turned out we were.

“Becoming the MP for East Renfrewshire is an honour and my election victory is a testament to the hard work my team put into the campaign to speak with local people about their priorities.

“I think this historic win for Labour is a direct result of people feeling let down by and fed up with two bad governments.

“I’m ready to speak up on behalf of the people here in East Renfrewshire and stand up for their priorities at Westminster.”

On his first day of work as the constituency’s MP, Mr McDougall was out and about in Neilston with Scottish Labour MSP Paul O’Kane.

While in the village the new MP said he spent time talking to local people about their issues and what should be on his to-do-list for the local area.

Mr McDougall has since travelled down to Westminster for the first time since taking the seat and was photographed outside Number 10 chatting to the new Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray.

“I’ve already been out in Neilston speaking to local people about their issues and that is very much how I intend to use my time as an MP," he added.

“Scotland chose change, East Renfrewshire chose change and I’m ready to help a Labour government deliver it”.