Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross visits Newton Mearns

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “I was delighted to get out on the campaign trail with Jackson in the last week before polling day.

“Jackson has been an outstanding constituency MSP for Eastwood over the last five years and I know he will continue to stand up for local people if he is re-elected. I would be honoured to have him as part of my team in Parliament.

“Voters In Eastwood have a stark choice on Thursday. They can choose to have 100 per cent focus on rebuilding their communities by voting for Jackson and the Scottish Conservatives or they can return to another divisive referendum with the SNP.

“Only a vote for Jackson Carlaw on your constituency ballot and the Scottish Conservatives on your peach party list vote can help stop an SNP majority, stop their push for indyref2 and guarantee a MSP focused on Eastwood’s recovery.”

Scottish Conservative Eastwood candidate Jackson Carlaw said: “It was great to have Douglas join me as we took our positive message out to voters in Newton Mearns.

“This has been a campaign like no other with the Covid-related restrictions in place, but it is clear voters here in Eastwood don’t want another referendum and instead want to firmly focus on our recovery.

“This seat is a straight fight between myself who will be relentlessly focused on rebuilding our communities across Eastwood or the SNP candidate who will only be obsessed about breaking up the United Kingdom.

“I was honoured when voters in Eastwood elected me as their constituency MSP five years ago and it would be an even bigger honour to be re-elected on Thursday.

“Only a vote for me will put the day-to day priorities of Eastwood’s communities first over any plans to put them through another independence referendum.”

The election takes place on Thursday, May 6.

Due to the impact of delivering an election during the ongoing pandemic, a number of polling places in East Renfrewshire have been changed.

With Carmichael Hall, in Giffnock, currently the venue of a Covid vaccination centre, those who usually vote there will instead go to St Ninian's High School Sports Hall.

Netherlee Primary School is the alternative for Netherlee Pavilion, Mearns Primary is being used instead of Fairweather Hall and Eaglesham Primary is the alternative to Montgomerie Hall.

All of these changes are needed due to the requirements to adhere to social distancing measures.

Using these schools will not adversely impact pupils, as May 6 is a scheduled in-service day for all schools across East Renfrewshire.

With restrictions still in place due to the pandemic, a number of measures have been introduced to ensure safety at polling places.

For those who choose to vote in person, polling places will be following all public health guidelines. Voters are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by:

Wearing a face covering

Bringing their own pen or pencil

Cleaning their hands when entering and leaving the polling station

Keeping a safe distance