THE WEE COUNTY'S new MP said he will be focusing his efforts on attracting more investment into the area.

Conservative Luke Graham has become the first Conservative politician to be elected for the Ochil and South Perthshire constituency after the vote on Thursday, June 8.

Following the count of ballot papers and declaration of results at Alloa Town Hall, the newly elected representative told the Advertiser: “The one big piece is about getting more investment into the Wee County.

“Rather than looking at Westminster as an enemy and trying to make lots of political points down there, it's about trying to work with the government and trying to get more resources to the constituency.”

He is also hoping to work “right across the community”, adding: “The politics of the last few years have been pretty divisive from the 2014 referendum right up to today.

“I don't think we want to keep going around in this circle about separation and I think people have clearly spoken and now we should start working together.

“Obviously, there will always be political differences, but I think we can work together on some of the bigger projects and especially some of the community projects here in Clackmannanshire.”

Luke explained he was trying to speak to as many people as possible across the constituency throughout the campaign and said: “When we started in 2015 we were going to a lot of places that we were always told 'no, Tories can't go there, you'll never make any gains here'.

“We went into every area and spoke to as many people as possible and fortunately it looks like people have responded to that.

“A lot of people have put their trust in the Conservatives and in myself and I think we've got to make good on that.”

Indeed, Luke has nearly doubled his share of the vote compared to two years ago.

As to whether he would vote against a Tory policy that he thought would not benefit the residents of the area, he said: “During the campaign, there have been several issues that have come up where I've made my own views clear and I'll continue to do that.

“I elected to be a constituency MP, I'm obviously a member of the Conservative and Unionist Party so I will vote with my party, but where there needs to be challenge, there needs to be reform, I won't hold back from that and I'll definitely be engaging with every level of my party to make sure we are as progressive as possible.”