[1] As a young woman, McCurley was a member of the Liberals, but she was persuaded to join the Conservative Party after attending a speech given by Gerald Nabarro.
[2] Capitalising on this success, she then aimed for parliament by contesting West Stirlingshire at the 1979 general election and Glasgow Central in a 1980 by-election.
[5][3] Writing in The Guardian, Julia Langdon reported that a "great many people on the Scottish political scene" were pleased to see McCurley win, including several in the Labour Party – and not just because she had defeated a leading defector to the SDP, but because she was "plucky and, quite simply, popular.
During her time in Parliament, she was described by The Scotsman newspaper as outspoken and formidable, and praised by her successor for her political independence and interest in her constituents.
[7] In 1997, she attempted to become the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the Eastwood constituency, but failed to make it to the shortlist stage, with Paul Cullen eventually taking the candidature.