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Ferguslie Park residents were yesterday stunned that a Tory councillor had been elected in their ward.

But speculation is rife that voters had plumped for the wrong John McIntyre.

We spoke to voters immediately after the shock announcement, with many claiming the local electorate had thought they’d actually voted for popular local activist John Goudie McIntyre, who was standing as an independent.

PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS: Live news as it happens

Ferguslie Park’s new Conservative councillor himself admitted yesterday that he was “shocked” to have been voted on to Renfrewshire Council.

It’s believed to be the first time in decades that a Conservative has been voted in for the area — the most deprived community in Scotland.

Ian Clark, 37, bed manager at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, was adamant the people had made a mistake at the polling station.

He said: “I think there has been a massive mix-up.

“I think folk were trying to vote for the other John McIntyre from up here and made a mistake.“

His thoughts were echoed by retired teacher Margaret McDermott, 64, who added: “There is a suggestion that people voted for the wrong John McIntyre.

“If it’s true, it’s really bad.

“It’s possible it has been a case of mistaken identity, because I can’t believe a Tory has got in.”

Others took to social media to vent their frustration at the result, with one post saying: “There’s not a hope in hell of Ferguslie voted Tory.

“It’s also quite convenient that the candidate’s name is the same as former community activist, John McIntyre.

“The Tories didn’t even have one representative at the polling station or leaflet drop round the doors.”

Conservative John McIntyre was voted in at the Paisley Northwest ward with 657 votes.

Independent candidate John Goudie McIntyre received 185 votes.

The surprising result was announced at The Lagoon Leisure Centre, in Paisley, yesterday morning.

The new Conservative candidate says he is overwhelmed to have been chosen by the people of Ferguslie to represent them.

He said: “I first got involved with Conservative party when Annabelle Gouldie was leader.

“I had helped out previously then decided to stand for Renfrewshire Council.

“But I am delighted at this year’s result — if not a little shocked.

“I think the reason for the Tory surge in Paisley is the underlying prospect of another Indy referendum. That’s made people move away from the SNP

“Also, Labour under Jeremy Corbyn have had a similar situation. People are disillusioned.

“There’s been a surge across the board for us and it has a lot to do with those circumstances and the fact that people like Ruth

Davidson.

“I want to be the best possible councillor for my ward.

“In Ferguslie Park, in particular, I want to work on housing and regeneration — those are the issues I foresee I will become involved with.

“This is my third time standing and people are more receptive now to the Tories than they have ever been, in my experience.

“It’s a pull and push. They’re pushed from other parties by Jeremy Corbyn and Indy ref, and pulled to the Tories by Ruth Davidson and what the party stands for.”

In August last year, Ferguslie Park was — once again — named the most deprived area in Scotland.

A Scottish Government report put the scheme top of the table of almost 7,000 hot-spots, marking it the most poverty-stricken in the country.

Experts warned that many locals are living below the breadline and will die younger, struggle at school and have less chance of finding well-paid work.

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) breaks the country up into 6,976 zones.

Streets to the south of Ferguslie Park Avenue, west of Tannahill Road and north of Blackstoun Road have been flagged up as worst for poverty. It flies in the face of the Tory’s austerity policies and cuts to benefits.

Roads to the south of Blackstoun Road and north-west of Dalskeith Avenue rank 11th on the hotspot table.

And land north of the railway line, west of Dalskeith Road and east of Candren Road sit at 22nd.

High levels of crime and unemployment, coupled with low incomes, attainment levels in the classroom and poor health have kept swathes of Ferguslie Park the poorest in the country.

It has consistently found itself at the top of the table, with similar surveys putting it at number one in 2012 and 2006.

Ministers found it to be the second most deprived area in Scotland in 2009 and 20th in 2004.

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