BROWN MELTDOWN REFLECTED IN HEARTLAND BY-ELECTIONS.

BROWN MELTDOWN REFLECTED IN HEARTLAND BY-ELECTIONS.


LABOUR JUST CLING ON IN SAFEST WESTMINSTER SEAT IN SCOTLAND


The SNP have hailed the result of the Coatbridge North and Glenboig by-election in North Lanarkshire which not only saw a swing of over 5% from Labour to the SNP – from the SNP's high point of 2007 – but also saw the party come within only 63 votes of taking the council seat.

The ward lies in what should be Labour's safest Westminster seat of Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill and the by-election was the subject of a disputed recount.

Commenting on the result Central Scotland SNP MSP John Wilson said:

“Coatbridge should be Labour heartland. For Labour to see their vote collapse to a level where they cling on by only 63 votes is remarkable.

“The 2007 election result was already a high watermark for the SNP. For the SNP to achieve a further swing in what is our midterm is a great result.

“That Labour had to dispute a full recount and just scrape home by 63 votes reflects the depths of Labour's meltdown in contrast to the success of the SNP Government.”

Commenting on the combined results of yesterday's by-elections which show a 7.82% swing from Labour to the SNP from the 2007 election SNP MSP and Minister for Parliament Bruce Crawford said:

“These results are a very positive indication for the SNP Government. With the possibility of a General Election increasing as Gordon Brown's government disintegrates these results put the SNP in a strong position.

"The people of Scotland want a Government which puts jobs and communities at the top of its agenda - not one which still has plans to slash Scottish investment in the teeth of a recession.”

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1. The results of the Coatbridge North and Glenboig by-election were (with changes from 2007 in brackets):

SNP: 1254 – 35.25% (+5.85%)
Labour: 1529 – 42.98% (-4.84%)
Tory: 361 – 10.14% (-0.44%)
Independent: 557 – 15.65%
Green: 115 – 3.23% (+3.23%)
Independent: 217 – 6.1%
SSP: 81 – 2.27% (-0.98%)

This equals a 5.35% swing Labour to SNP

The final count was:

Labour: 1759
SNP: 1696

A majority of 63.

2. The result of the Anniesland/Drumchapel declared earlier was (with changes from 2007 in brackets):

SNP: 1509 – 28.29% (+6.76%)
Labour: 2584 – 48.44% (-11.95%)
LibDem: 349 – 6.54% (+2.52%)
Tory: 316 – 5.92% (+1.17%)
Green: - 270 – 5.06% (+2.06)
BNP: 177 – 3.32% (+3.32%)
Ind: 129 – 2.42% (+2.42%)

A 9.35% swing from Labour to the SNP.

3. The combined result of both of tonight's by-elections are:

SNP: 2763 – 29.24% (+4.27%)
Labour: 4113 – 43.53% (-11.36%)
Tory: 677 – 7.17% (-0.13%)
LibDem: 349 – 3.69% (1.43%)
Other: 1546 – 16.36% (5.79%)

A 7.82% swing from Labour to the SNP from the 2007 election.