The SNP have secured a total of five by-election wins in Scottish councils
FOLLOWING a landslide SNP victory in May’s general election, the SNP have secured wins in five council by-elections.
Three of the five by-elections were driven by resignations of the councillors who are now SNP MPs, Alison Thewliss of Glasgow Central, Angela Crawley of Lanark and Hamilton and Martin Docherty who is now MP for West Dunbartonshire. The remaining two by-elections were prompted by the resignation of a Green and an SNP councillor. A total of thirteen new SNP MPs have resigned as councillors to focus efforts on their roles as MPs.
Each of the contests witnessed a repeat of the vast swings to the SNP seen across the country in the 2015 general election.
In the Glasgow Calton ward, the SNP gained a 25 per cent swing with 1,507 first preference votes against 814 to Labour, 129 Conservative votes, 103 to UKIP, 99 to the Scottish Green Party, Ind 47 and 18 votes to the Liberal Democrats.
Securing a seat from the Scottish Green Party in the Langside ward in Glasgow, first preference voting was: SNP 2,134, Labour 932, Green 579, Conservative 379, Liberal Democrats 125, UKIP 65, TUSC 62, resulting in a 13% swing overall to the SNP.
With a 20 per cent swing from Labour to the SNP, the SNP held Glasgow, Anderston/City seat with 1,441 first-count votes against Labour 857, Scottish Green Party 414, Conservative 164, Liberal Democrat 66, UKIP 43, Libertarian 12.
At South Lanarkshire, Hamilton South, the SNP held their seat with a confortable 16 per cent swing from the Scottish Labour Party. First-preference voting was: SNP 1,881, Labour 1,396, Conservative 349, Scottish Green Paty 127, Christian 77, UKIP 43, Liberal Democrats 32, and Pirate 13.
Glasgow, Craigton, witnessed a 21.5 per cent swing from Labour to the SNP. First-preference voting was: SNP 2,674, Labour 1,643, Conservative 300, Scottish Green Party 136, UKIP 95, Liberal Democrats 87.
Yet the turnout in these by-elections was, in places, as low as 14.5 per cent and 16.1 per cent.
Several other by-elections are due to take place, in areas such as South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, Midlothian and Edinburgh North and Leith.
SNP Business convenor Derek Mackay said after the second of the five victories: “With polls showing strong support for the SNP across the country and growing numbers of people in by-elections putting their trust in the party to represent their communities, it is clear that the SNP is in a very strong position as we approach next year’s Scottish Parliament election – and seek to build on our outstanding record of delivery and success in government.”
Picture courtesy of First Minister of Scotland