A SURGE of new members have joined the ranks of political parties in the Clydebank area in wake of the Independence Referendum.

The three main pro-independence parties the Scottish National Party, Scottish Green Party and Scottish Socialist Party made the biggest gains.

Scottish Labour and the Conservatives have also seen a smaller influx of new members in Clydebank and around West Dunbartonshire.

The SNP have bolstered their numbers in the Clydebank area by 140.

Clydebank SNP chairman Gareth Finn said: “Although we were disappointed with the national result in the referendum we are delighted with the positive reaction from supporters of independence across Clydebank and Scotland.” Nationally, the SNP have recruited 43,000 new members since the referendum — taking their total membership to 68,000, overtaking the Liberal Democrats as third largest party in the UK.

The Scottish Socialist Party have enlisted 2,600 members nationally — with its Glasgow Northwest branch which covers Clydebank and Drumchapel adding 103 new members.

Branch spokesman Richie Venton said: “We celebrate our 16th birthday as a party by welcoming a flood of new members in the Clydebank and Drumchapel SSP branch area.

“People of every generation in Clydebank and Drumchapel who have joined the SSP have found their natural home — a working class party that puts people before profit, a party which will not rest until we achieve our goal of a socialist Scotland.” The Scottish Green Party have recruited 120 new members in West Dunbartonshire — but was unable to break this down into Clydebank numbers. In the period after the referendum the party took on 4,500 new members nationally.

Ross Greer, of Dunbartonshire Greens, said: “The massive rise in our membership puts us in contention for our first MSP for the West of Scotland in 2016 and council wins too.

“The referendum campaign has given far more people an opportunity to hear about the Greens’ vision of a more equal society.” A spokesman for the Labour Party said: “Scottish Labour Party membership has increased by the hundreds during the referendum period, but we do not publish our membership figures in full.” The Scottish Conservatives did not want to reveal a number but claimed they have seen an increase. A spokesman said: “While we have experienced an increase in numbers thanks to the referendum, the party doesn’t disclose official membership figures.

“The Conservative Friends of the Union set up for the referendum attracted more than 80,000 members, many of whom were from the Clydebank and wider West Dunbartonshire area.” The Scottish Liberal Democrats did not respond to our enquiry.