Julie Pirone: Last News

Join thousands of others in getting the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox.A power giant that demanded a Renfrew pub stump up a £2,500 security deposit has now backed down.And publican Allan Strang said: “I am thrilled – and it’s all thanks to the Paisley Daily Express and local politician Julie Pirone.“Sometimes you just have to stick your head above the parapet.“Other pubs will be impacted too and it is out of order.“It means The Black Bull can open again later this month with a decent electricity deal in place.”We told last week how Allan and his partner Shiona Sillars had been asked to pay four months power bills up front – when pubs have had no income for a year.npower made the shocking demand despite the couple

Join thousands of others in getting the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox.Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross hit the campaign trail in Renfrewshire North and West in a bid to boost candidate Julie Pirone's election chances.As polling day draws ever closer, the pair were out and about in Renfrew over the weekend as Mrs Pirone continued her fight to become the constituency's first Tory MSP.Since the seat was first created in 2011, it has belonged to former SNP MSP Derek Mackay, who was the subject of a scandal at the start of last year as it emerged he had hounded a 16-year-old boy with hundreds of messages on social media.Despite being suspended by the SNP and stepping down as finance secretary, Mr Mackay has

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.A Renfrewshire town has been failed by five years of inaction on development, according to Conservative politicians.They say compared to towns of similar 17,500 population size, like Johnstone and Troon, Erskine’s facilities are basic at best.They claim a Renfrewshire Council document for change has simply been “gathering dust in SNP drawers”.Renfrewshire North and West Tory candidate Julie Pirone has backed Erskine councillor Tom Begg’s “complete frustration” at nothing happening on the ground.The town is on Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson’s patch, who has hit back, saying “significant investments” are ongoing.A charrette – a planning forum

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Health bosses have conceded there will be no action on a new medical centre until after the election.It’s another bitter pill for the community of Bishopton, claims Tory candidate Julie Pirone.She spoke of being astounded at the perpetual stalling in giving the village a fit-for-purpose health centre.Jane Grant, the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, confirmed it will be June before any light is shone on the issue.That reaction has been labelled “beyond a joke” by Mrs Pirone, Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Renfrewshire North and West at May’s Scottish Parliament election.She said: “The health board is continuing to kick

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Shamed politician Derek Mackay has been savaged by the woman who hopes to win his seat exactly one year on from his spectacular fall.Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate Julie Pirone branded it “shameful and disgraceful” that Mackay has clung onto his job.It was a year ago on Saturday that he was forced to resign as SNP Finance Secretary.Details of his inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old boy emerged, including one where he called the lad “cute”.Mrs Pirone, standing in the Renfrewshire North and West seat in May’s Scottish Parliament election, says Mr Mackay will have earned over £150,000 in salary and expenses since losing his ministerial

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Roads chiefs are coming under increasing pressure to install a stop sign at a hazardous Bishopton crossroads before a fatal accident occurs.The community council, elected member James MacLaren and the area's Conservative MSP candidate, Julie Pirone, have joined forces to lobby local authority bosses to urgently take action at the junction of Old Greenock Road and Kingston Road.Drivers coming north up Kingston Road are often unaware they need to give way to cars crossing their path on Old Greenock Road, leading to some major side-on collisions which have been captured on CCTV nearby.Residents also insist it is extremely difficult to see cars coming from

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.The Conservative party has chosen a candidate to contest Derek Mackay's seat in next year's Scottish Parliament election.Julie Pirone - who stood at last year's general election in Paisley and Renfrewshire North - will look to turn the Renfrewshire North and West seat blue when voters go to the polls next May.Since 2011, the seat has been held by former finance minister Mr Mackay, who was suspended by the SNP earlier this year after it emerged he sent messages to a 16-year-old boy over social media.Communications specialist Mrs Pirone, who is a former Labour voter, has lived in both Renfrew and Bridge of Weir and has vowed to "stand up for everyone" in