Baillieston (Glasgow) 18 th September 2008

A by-election was held in the Baillieston ward of Glasgow Council on the 18 th September 2008 following the resignation of Scottish National Party Cllr John Mason on the 25 th July 2008 subsequent to his election as MP for Glasgow East. David Turner held the seat for the Scottish National Party.

Baillieston is in the Glasgow East Westminster parliamentary seat (held by the Scottish National Party's John Mason MP since the 24 th July 2008) and in the Glasgow Baillieston Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Margaret Curran MSP). In May 2007, four Cllrs were elected: Cllr John Mason (SNP), Bailie David McDonald (SNP), Cllr James Coleman (Labour), Cllr Douglas Hay (Labour). Cllr John Mason obtained the highest personal vote of any Cllr in Glasgow.

Cllrs for Baillieston

Baillieston 18 th September 2008

Seats	Candidates	Counts	Electorate	Valid votes	% poll	Quota	Rejected votes
1	9	9	23,202	5,196	22.68 %	2,599	65

First Preference Votes

Candidate	Party	1 st Pref	Share	Quota	Count	Status	Seat
David Turner	Scottish National Party	2,318	44.61 %	0.89	9	Made Quota	1
Andy Muir	Labour	2,167	41.71 %	0.83	9	Eliminated
John Anderson	Conservative & Unionist	259	4.98 %	0.10	8	Eliminated
David Jackson	Liberal Democrat	159	3.06 %	0.06	7	Eliminated
Tricia McLeish	Solidarity	74	1.42 %	0.03	6	Eliminated
Charles Baillie	British National Party	73	1.40 %	0.03	5	Eliminated
Daniel O'Donnell	Scottish Socialist Party	58	1.12 %	0.10	4	Eliminated
Moira A. Crawford	Scottish Green Party	45	0.86 %	0.02	3	Eliminated
Ian Dickie	Scottish Unionist Party	43	0.82 %	0.02	2	Eliminated

Count Details

Adjustments	Exclusion of Dickie	Exclusion of Crawford	Exclusion of O'Donnell	Exclusion of Baillie	Exclusion of McLeish	Exclusion of Jackson	Exclusion of Anderson	Exclusion of Muir
Candidate	Logo	Party	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7	Count 8	Count 9
David Turner		Scottish National Party	2,318	+ 2.00 2,320.00	+ 10.00 2,330	+ 14.00 2,344	+ 11.00 2,355	+ 26.00 2,381	+ 34.00 2,215	+ 96.00 2,511	+ 620.00 3,131 Elected
Andy Muir		Labour	2,167	+ 1.00 2,168	+ 3.00 2,171	+ 15.00 2,186	+ 3.00 2,189	+ 19.00 2,208.00	+ 56.00 2,264	+ 49.00 2,313	- 2,313.00 0 Eliminated
John Anderson		Conservative & Unionist	259	+ 13.00 272	+ 1.00 273	+ 1.00 274	+ 30.00 304	+ 6.00 310	+ 31.00 341	- 341 0 Eliminated
David Jackson		Liberal Democrat	159	+ 3.00 162	+ 9.00 171	+ 5.00 176	+ 0.00 176	+ 4.00 180	- 180 0 Eliminated
Tricia McLeish		Solidarity	74	+ 2.00 76	+ 4.00 80.00	+ 16.00 96.00	+ 9.00 105	- 105 0 Eliminated
Charles Baillie		British National Party	73	+ 6.00 79.00	+ 2.00 81	+0.00 81	- 81 0 Eliminated
Daniel O'Donnell		Scottish Socialist Party	58	+ 0.00 58	+ 3.00 61	- 61 0 Eliminated
Moira A. Crawford		Scottish Green Party	45	+ 1.00 46	- 46 0 Eliminated
Ian Dickie		Scottish Unionist Party	43	- 43 0 Eliminated
Non-transferable votes	0	+ 15.00 15	+ 14.00 29	+ 10.00 39	+ 28.00 67	+ 50.00 117	+ 59.00 176	+ 196.00 372	+ 1,693.00 2,065

Baillieston 3 rd May 2007

Seats	Candidates	Counts	Electorate	Valid votes	% poll	Quota	Rejected votes
4	11	10	23,349	10,376	44.44 %	2,076	290

First Preference Votes

Candidate	Party	1 st Pref	Share	Quota	Count	Status	Seat
Cllr John Mason	Scottish National Party	3,199	30.83 %	1.54	1	Made Quota	1
Jim Coleman	Labour	2,689	25.92 %	1.30	1	Made Quota	2
Douglas Hay	Labour	1,342	12.93 %	0.65	10	Made Quota	3
Robert MacBean	Labour	739	7.12 %	0.36	10	Eliminated
George Clark	Conservative & Unionist	678	6.53 %	0.32	9	Eliminated
Michael Kayes	Solidarity	466	4.49 %	0.22	8	Eliminated
Marjory Watt	Liberal Democrat	394	3.80 %	0.19	7	Eliminated
David McDonald	Scottish National Party	250	2.41 %	0.12	10	Elected	4
Jim McVicar	Scottish Socialist Party	224	2.16 %	0.11	6	Eliminated
Ian Dickie	Scottish Unionist Party	216	2.08 %	0.10	5	Eliminated
Raymond Morrison	Scottish Green Party	181	1.74 %	0.09	4	Eliminated

Count Details

Adjustments	Surplus of Mason	Surplus of Coleman	Exclusion of Morrison	Exclusion of Dickie	Exclusion of McVicar	Exclusion of Watt	Exclusion of Kayes	Exclusion of Clark	Exclusion of MacBean
Candidate	Logo	Party	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7	Count 8	Count 9	Count 10
Cllr John Mason		Scottish National Party	3,199 Elected	- 1,123 2076
Jim Coleman		Labour	2,689 Elected	+ 0 2,689	- 613 2,076
Douglas Hay		Labour	1,342	+ 63.54 1,405.54	+ 303.41 1,708.95	+ 15.19 1,724.15	+ 13.63 1,737.78	+ 34.79 1,772.57	+ 81.48 1,854.04	+ 87.22 1,941.27	+ 131.42 2,072.69	+ 586.81 2,659.51 Elected
David McDonald		Scottish National Party	250	+ 667.33 917.33	+ 6.15 923.48	+ 26.39 949.87	+ 6.11 955.98	+ 28.57 984.52	+ 62.06 1,046.58	+ 130.48 1,177.06	+ 89.83 1,266.89	+ 58.81 1,325.70 Elected
Robert MacBean		Labour	739	+ 34.40 773.40	+ 100.07 873.48	+ 9.79 883.27	+ 10.17 893.44	+ 19.35 912.79	+ 50.74 963.53	+ 50.08 1,013.61	+ 45.19 1,058.81	- 1,058.81 0 Eliminated
George Clark		Conservative & Unionist	678	+ 37.91 715.91	+ 9.80 725.71	+ 9.63 735.35	+ 98.21 833.56	+ 17.16 850.72	+ 79.46 930.17	+ 40.14 970.32	- 970.32 0 Eliminated
Michael Kayes		Solidarity	466	+ 43.53 509.53	+23.25 532.78	+ 21.09 553.87	+ 11.23 565.10	+ 70.13 635.22	+ 37.02 672.24	- 672.24 0 Eliminated
Marjory Watt		Liberal Democrat	394	+ 38.96 432.96	+ 11.17 442.14	+ 42.11 484.24	+ 14.58 498.82	+ 24.67 523.49	- 523.49 0 Eliminated
Jim McVicar		Scottish Socialist Party	224	+ 28.43 252.43	+ 8.43 260.87	+ 25.05 285.92	+ 10.23 296.15	- 296.15 0 Eliminated
Ian Dickie		Scottish Unionist Party	216	+ 4.91 220.91	+ 6.61 227.53	+ 7.28 234.81	- 234.81 0 Eliminated
Raymond Morrison		Scottish Green Party	181	+ 24.92 205.92	+ 6.38 212.31	- 212.31 0 Eliminated
Non-transferable votes	0	+ 179.05 179.05	+ 137.70 316.76	+ 55.77 372.53	+ 70.65 443.1	+ 101.51 544.69	+ 212.74 757.43	+ 364.30 1,121.74	+ 703.87 1,825.61	+ 413.19 2,238.80

Earthquake in Glasgow East

Labour now faces electoral oblivion under Gordon Brown - and the United Kingdom may not survive in its present form

By Iain Macwhirter in the Guardian, 25 th July 2008

Glasgow belongs to Labour no more. Alex Salmond promised a political "earthquake" in Glasgow East, and once again he has delivered, on a 22% swing. This is an astonishing result, tearing the heart out of Labour in Scotland and sending shockwaves all the way to Downing Street.

Glasgow East was Labour's third-safest seat in Scotland, its twenty-fifth widest majority in the UK. It is the constituency of the great John Wheatley, a leading figure in the first Labour government in the 1920s. If they can't hold the line here, then Labour cannot hold the line anywhere.

The result - after a recount that stretched on into Friday morning - is the Scottish National Party's most stunning by-election victory since Jim Sillars took Glasgow Govan in 1988, overturning a similar 19,000-strong majority, and kick-starting the constitutional process that ultimately led to the creation of the Scottish parliament. John Mason, the victor of Glasgow East, was a capable candidate but he has none of the flair and charisma of Jim Sillars - which makes this victory even more resounding.

This is an unvarnished triumph for the SNP - the party of government in Scotland - rather than for an individual candidate. And it is a personal vindication for Alex Salmond. Many commentators believed that the SNP leader had been altogether too prominent in the campaign, after he visited the constituency a dozen times, and so was in line for a personal rebuff. But, clearly, not even Glasgow is immune to the Salmond's populist magic. Who dares, swings.

Of course, it also represents a massive protest against Labour in a constituency which has every reason to be disenchanted with this government. The dismal health and life-expectancy figures tell their own story. Glasgow East was also a protest at rising food and fuel prices, as well as the abolition of the 10p tax band. In truth it was hard to think of any positive reason for voting Labour in this corner of post-industrial Scotland, at this particular moment in the political cycle. But it is still a remarkable achievement for the nationalists to have successfully harvest the votes of the disenchanted and to have boosted the turnout to a respectable 42%, not far short of general election numbers. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats were nowhere in Glasgow East, with just 1,639 and 915 votes respectively.

Labour's policy forum in Warwick today has been turned into a wake, mourning not just the loss of Labour hegemony of Scottish politics, but also of its core vote. There can no longer be any doubt that Labour is facing electoral oblivion under Gordon Brown. Of course, the Prime Minister is not going to resign immediately, and Number Ten is clearly hoping that Glasgow East will be forgotten by the time the party gathers for the annual conference in the autumn. But following the worst local election results in England since the 1960s, the humiliation of losing Crewe and Nantwich and being beaten into fifth place by the BNP in Henley, Glasgow East must surely be a wake-up call to even the most complacent Labourites. Change, or die.

It is also a wake up call for the Union. If no Scottish seat is safe from the seduction of nationalism, then we must begin to take seriously the possibility that the United Kingdom may be finished, at least in its present form. The SNP minority administration in Holyrood, elected so narrowly in May 2007, has been immensely popular. Labour has been plunged into a terminal crisis in Scotland, having lost two leaders, half its councillors and now a crucial by-election. The other unionist parties are failing to provide any significant challenge to the SNP, which has grown in authority since it took over the reins of power in Holyrood.

While Westminster tinkers with Barnett formulas and the voting rights of Scottish MPs in the House of Commons, Scotland is already going its own way. It may still be possible to prevent complete separation by moving to a form of federalism, with Scotland given greater economic autonomy. But the way things are going, Scotland could be an independent nation within 10 years. The entire UK will be shaken by the earthquake in Glasgow.

Mason calls time on council career

By Vivienne Nicoll in the Evening Times, 28 th July 2008

ONE of John Mason's first actions as the newly elected MP for Glasgow East was to resign his Baillieston city council seat.

The decision will not only spark a by-election but also a battle for Mr Mason's role as leader of the 21-strong SNP group.

And it will put added pressure on Drumchapel/Anniesland councillor Bill Kidd, who is also an SNP MSP for Glasgow, to quit one of his two jobs.

Mr Mason informed the council of his decision to step down just hours after the election result which wiped out a Labour majority of more than 13,500.

He said: "My commitment always was to resign if I was elected as MP for Glasgow East."

Mr Mason was elected to the city council in a by-election in 1998 and became SNP leader on the council the next year.

He refused to speculate on who is likely to take over, insisting it is a matter for his former colleagues on the council. But insiders believe there will only be three main contenders for the job.

They could be deputy group leader Billy McAllister, who represents Canal, Maryhill/Kelvin councillor Alex Dingwall and Alison Hunter, whose ward is Govan.

Prior to last year's council elections the SNP had four Glasgow councillors. That changed with the introduction of a new form of voting and the SNP now has a councillor in each of the 21 wards.

Despite quitting the council, Mr Mason says he has no intention of forgetting his roots or the people who elected him.

He said: "Being an MP will be a huge challenge.

"A councillor has the advantage of being on the ground and there are a lot of issues people will go to their councillor with.

"MSPs and MPs are dealing with different issues but if someone comes to me in the future with a road issue, for example, I will still take it up with the council."

Council chief executive and returning officer George Black has three months to call a by-election.

Baillieston By Election 2008

From Glasgow City Council, 15 th August 2008

NOTICE OF BY-ELECTION

� GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL

� ELECTION OF A COUNCILLOR�

� WARD 20 - BAILLIESTON

� A By-Election is to be held for the return of a Councillor for Ward 20 - Baillieston of Glasgow City Council.

� NOMINATION PAPERS can be obtained from the Election Office, Glasgow City Council, Room 12 (Basement), 30 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1QZ.� This office is open for the issue and delivery of nomination papers on weekdays from 10am in the morning to 4pm in the afternoon.

� Completed nomination papers MUST be delivered to the�Returning Officer�at the above address by 4pm on 27th August 2008.

� If the By-Election is contested, voting will take place between the hours of 7.00am and 10.00pm on Thursday, 18th September 2008.

� Any Elector may apply for a postal vote or proxy vote at this Election.

� Applications to vote by post or to change or cancel an existing vote by proxy vote�MUST reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 78 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3SR�before 5pm on Wednesday 3rd September 2008.

� New applications to vote by proxy MUST reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 78 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3SR before 5pm on Wednesday 10th September 2008.

� If as a result of a disability an elector becomes incapacitated after 5pm on Wednesday 10th September 2008 an application to vote by proxy due to that disability MUST reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the above address before 5pm on the day of the poll.

� For advice on postal or proxy voting, contact the Electoral Registration Officer, 78 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3SR (Telephone: 0141 287 7535).

� GEORGE BLACK
Returning Officer

� Election Office
Glasgow City Council
Room 12 (Basement)
30 John Street
Glasgow
G1 1QZ

Phone: 0141 287 5684
Fax: 0141 287 0222

Date set to elect new councillor

By Vivienne Nicoll in the Evening Times, 15 th August 2008

VOTERS in Baillieston will go to the polls on Thursday September 18 to elect a new councillor.

The vote follows the resignation of John Mason, the former SNP group leader on Glasgow City Council and the longest serving Nationalist councillor in the city.

In July, Nationalist candidate Mr Mason toppled a 13,507 majority in a sensational Westminster by-election victory to take Glasgow East by 365 votes. It had been Labour's third safest seat in Scotland.

Labour's vote plummeted from 18,775 at the 2005 General Election to 10,912 - a swing to the SNP of 22.5%.

The closing date for acceptance of nominations for the council seat is August 27 at 4pm.

At the last council election Mr Mason was returned to the City Chambers along with Labour's Jim Coleman and Douglas Hay, and David McDonald of the SNP.

Date set for council by-election in Glasgow's east end

By Alison Campsie in the Herald, 16 th August 2008

Voters in the east end of Glasgow will go to the polls on September 18 following the SNP victory in the recent Westminster by-election.

John Mason MP has resigned as group leader on Glasgow City Council in light of the result, with voters due to select a replacement councillor for his former Baillieston ward next month.

He was the longest serving SNP councillor in the city, after being elected for the Garrowhill ward at a by-election in 1998 and holding the seat in 1999 and 2003.

Mr Mason has led the SNP Group on the Council since 1999 and was elected in 2007 as councillor for the new ward of Baillieston.

In July, he toppled a 13,507 majority to take the Glasgow East seat from Labour by 365 votes. It had been Labour's third safest seat in Scotland.

Four other SNP councillors hold the ward at present. The closing date for acceptance of nominations for the council seat is August 27.

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown is likely to attend the funeral of long-standing friend MP John MacDougall, whose death has presented Labour with a difficult by-election. It is to be held on Monday.

Mr MacDougall, 60, the MP for Glenrothes, died on Tuesday after a long battle with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.

The funeral will take place in Burntisland, the Fife town which Mr MacDougall represented as a councillor.

His death leaves Labour defending a majority of 10,664 in a seat next door to Mr Brown's constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, at a time when the party is still reeling from the loss of Glasgow East to the SNP.

Labour suffered a similar electoral disaster in Fife in February 2006 when Dunfermline and West Fife was captured by the Liberal Democrats.

The party today declined to comment on speculation that former First Minister Henry McLeish could be a contender to be Labour's candidate in a by-election which many observers expect will not take place until the autumn.

Mr McLeish was Labour MP for the forerunner seat of Central Fife until the creation of the Scottish Parliament. He stood down from the Westminster seat in 2001, and later that year stood down as First Minister after controversy over his Westminster constituency office expenses.

Candidate selected for Baillieston ward

From Glasgow SNP, 16 th August 2008

The SNP Candidate for the Baillieston Ward by-election, is experienced local activist DAVID TURNER. David is 41 years old and married.� He was born and raised locally attending Garrowhill Primary and Bannerman Secondary School.� David now works at Glasgow Airport and was previously employed by Scottish Power. David is committed to the local communities of the Baillieston ward and is committed to being a hard working, full time Councillor. David said, "I'm delighted to have this opportunity to represent the SNP in this by election, I'm firmly on the side of ordinary hard working people and families.� I know and share their concerns and when elected I will look to take action on the local issues effecting them.� I will be working closely with John Mason and the other local SNP councillors to make sure that your views are heard loud and clear."

John Mason added, "David is a great choice of candidate, and I look forward to working with him once elected."

Nominations close for by-election in Baillieston ward of Glasgow City Council

From Glasgow City Council, 28 th August 2008

Nine candidates will contest the by-election in the Baillieston ward of Glasgow City Council on September 18.

� Nominations closed yesterday and the list of candidates is as follows:

� John Anderson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Charles Baillie, British National Party

Moira A Crawford, Scottish Green Party

Ian Dickie, SUP, Proudly Scottish, Proudly British

David Jackson, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Tricia McLeish, Solidarity: Tommy Sheridan

Andy Muir, Scottish Labour Party Candidate

Daniel O'Donnell, Scottish Socialist Party-Scrap Council Tax

David Turner, Scottish National Party (SNP)

The full list of candidates and agents is available here.

� Electors wishing to vote by post have until 5pm on September 3 to apply, and anyone who cannot vote in person has until 5pm on September 10 to apply for a proxy vote. �

Application forms are available from the Electoral Registration Officer on 0141 287 7535 or here.

Daniel O'Donnell to stand in city by-election . . . No not that one

By Vivienne Nicoll in the Evening Times, 28 th August 2008

HE'S a man of mystery, even his own party can't find a picture of him.

But Daniel O'Donnell is hoping to emerge from the shadows when he stands in the by-election for the Bailieston seat in the local election on September 18.

The Scottish Socialist Party candidate will contest the seat with eight other hopefuls.

They are all trying to win the seat left vacant when John Mason, former SNP group leader in the City Chambers, snatched the Glasgow East seat from Labour in a shock by-election result in July toppling a 13,507 majority to take the seat by 365 votes.

The victory, which represented a massive swing of 22.5% to the SNP, was hailed a political earthquake.

Glasgow East was regarded as Labour's third safest seat in Scotland and its loss sent shock waves through the party.

First Minister Alex Salmond insisted the result was a "judgment" on the performances of the Scottish and UK Governments.

He said: "The policy that needs to be changed is on the economy. We need a plan for recovery, we need a plan to stave off recession.

"We need action taken to ease the pressure on household budgets in Glasgow East and across Scotland."

If replicated in a General Election, the Glasgow East result would not only unseat Gordon Brown but leave Labour in Scotland with one solitary MP.

Mr Mason, who served as a councillor for 10 years, was the longest serving SNP councillor in the City Chambers.

Voters in Baillieston will go to the polls on September 18 to elect a new councillor for the area.

The following candidates are contesting the seat: John Anderson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Charles Baillie, British National Party Moira Crawford, Scottish Green Party Ian Dickie, SUP, Proudly Scottish, Proudly British David Jackson, Scottish Liberal Democrats Tricia McLeish, Solidarity:Tommy Sheridan Andy Muir, Scottish Labour Party Daniel O'Donnell, Scottish Socialist Party - Scrap Council tax David Turner, Scottish National Party.

SNP - On your side

From Glasgow SNP, 18 th September 2008

Following John Mason MP's by-election victory, David Turner is ready to take his place as councillor for Baillieston ward, alongside the SNP's other Baillieston Councillor, David McDonald.

Together they will be a strong and effective team, ensuring your community is well represented at all levels. Vote SNP - Polling stations are open until 10pm tonight.�

SNP celebrate by-election victory

From Glasgow SNP, 18 th September 2008

The SNP tonight won the Baillieston by-election caused by the election of former Cllr John Mason as MP for Glasgow East.

SNP candidate David Turner has been elected as councillor for the Baillieston ward.

Councillor Turner said: "I'm delighted to have won this by-election to represent the people of Baillieston in Glasgow City Council.

"Born and bred in Glasgow East I share people's concerns and as their councillor I will take forward action on local issues from housing to energy costs to Glasgow Labour's failure to invest fully in local schools and teachers.

"John Mason was an excellent Councillor in this ward for ten years and I look forward to working closely with him as the new MP to make sure Baillieston's voice is heard loud and clear.

SNP MP for Glasgow East John Mason said: "This is a second spectacular win for the SNP in Glasgow East. I won my council seat in a by-election 10 years ago, now it is David's turn.

"Glasgow East deserves good councillors and that is what they have got in David Turner.

"With a by-election in Glenrothes coming soon it's clear people are turning to the SNP and know that it is the SNP, not Labour, that is on their side."

James Dornan, the leader of the SNP Council Group in Glasgow City Council, said: "I'm delighted at another SNP success in Baillieston. David will be a valuable addition to the SNP council group in Glasgow, and we are looking forward to him taking his place in our team."

Results of Baillieston by-election

From Glasgow City Council, 19 th September 2008

The result of the by-election for the Baillieston ward, held on Thursday 18 September, 2008, has been declared.

� David Turner of the Scottish National Party (SNP) was elected to represent Baillieston, electoral ward 20.

The candidate was elected at the ninth stage using the single transferable vote system.

� The by-election was run on the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, in which candidates are listed in order of preference.

� It�was caused by the resignation of Councillor John Mason, following his recent election to Parliament for the constituency of Glasgow East.

� Percentage Turnout 22.68%

Rejected Votes 65

Total electorate 23,131

� Full results are available here:

Candidate	Party	Elected	Number of Votes
ANDERSON, John	Scottish Conservative and Unionist		259
BAILLIE, Charles	British National Party		73
CRAWFORD, Moira A	Scottish Green Party		45
DICKIE, Ian	SUP, Proudly Scottish, Proudly British		43
JACKSON, David	Scottish Liberal Democrats		159
MCLEISH, Tricia	Solidarity - Tommy Sheridan		74
MUIR, Andy	Scottish Labour Party		2167
O'DONNELL, Daniel	Scottish Socialist Party-Scrap Council Tax		58
TURNER, David	Scottish National Party (SNP)	Elected	2318

Election Statistics
Total Electorate	23,202
Majority	0
Percentage Poll	22.68

Breakdown of Rejected Papers
Want of Official Mark	0
Voting for More Than One Candidate	11
Writing or Mark by which Voter could be Identified	0
Unmarked or Void for Uncertainty	54
Total Rejected Papers	65

SNP holds ward after by-election

From BBC News, 19 th Septemner 2008

The SNP has held the ward of Baillieston on Glasgow City Council.

David Turner was elected to represent the ward in a by-election prompted by the resignation of John Mason.

Mr Mason left the council following his victory for the SNP in the Glasgow East by-election, a seat which used to be one of Labour's safest in Westminster.

Turnout at the Baillieston by-election was 22.68%. The Single Transferable Vote System was used, which lists candidates in order of preference.

The candidates who contested the by-election and votes gained were:

John Anderson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, 259
Charles Baillie, British National Party, 73
Moira A Crawford, Scottish Green Party, 45
Ian Dickie, Scottish Unionist Party, 43
David Jackson, Scottish Liberal Democrats, 159
Tricia McLeish, Solidarity, 74
Andy Muir, Scottish Labour Party, 2167
Daniel O'Donnell, Scottish Socialist Party, 58
David Turner, Scottish National Party, 2318

SNP win in Baillieston deepens Labour woes

From the Scottish National Party, 19 th September 2008

The SNP has won the Baillieston by-election in the seat left vacant by success at the Glasgow East by-election.

David Turner was elected - with a swing of 7.8% from Lab to SNP - to represent the Baillieston ward on Glasgow City Council.

The by-election was held to find a replacement for the SNP's John Mason, who resigned as councillor after he was elected MP for Glasgow East at a by-election in July, taking one of Labour's safest seats.

Cllr Turner said: "I'm delighted to have won this by-election to represent the people of Baillieston in Glasgow City Council.

"I share people's concerns and as their councillor I will take forward action on local issues from housing to energy costs to Glasgow Labour's failure to invest fully in local schools and teachers."

SNP MP for Glasgow East John Mason added: "This is a second spectacular win for the SNP in Glasgow East.

"I won my council seat in a by-election 10 years ago, now it is David's turn. Glasgow East deserves good councillors and that is what they have got in David Turner.

"With a by-election in Glenrothes coming soon it's clear people are turning to the SNP and know that it is the SNP, not Labour, that is on their side."

Council By-election Joy For SNP

By Vivienne Nicoll in the Evening Times, 19 th September 2008

THE SNP has held the city council seat left vacant by John Mason.

Glasgow Airport worker David Turner, 41, won last night's by-election and was elected to represent the Baillieston ward.

Mr Mason, who was the SNP's group leader on Glasgow City Council, resigned as a councillor after being elected MP for Glasgow East in July.

The Westminster by-election had been sparked by the resignation of Labour MP David Marshall on health grounds, and followed hard on the heels of heavy defeats for Labour in Crewe and Nantwich and Henley.

elighted to have won this by-election to represent the people of Baillieston.

"Born and bred in Glasgow East, I share people's concerns and, as their councillor, I will take forward action on local issues from housing to energy costs to Glasgow Labour's failure to invest fully in local schools and teachers."

Mr Turner, who attended Garrowhill Primary and Bannerman Secondary School, added: "John Mason was an excellent councillor in this ward for 10 years. I look forward to working closely with him as the new MP to make sure Baillieston's voice is heard loud and clear."

Mr Mason said: "Glasgow East deserves good councillors and that is what they have got in David Turner."

The SNP remain the second biggest party on the city council with 22 seats. Labour have 46.

The full result was: David Turner (SNP) 2318; Andy Muir (Scottish Labour) 2167; John Anderson (Cons) 259; David Jackson (LibDem) 159. The turnout was 22.68% from a total electorate of 23,202.

Brown ally says PM may need to be replaced if party does badly in European elections

By Bernard Ponsonby in STV News, 19 th September 2008

One of Gordon Brown's closest political friends has told stv that he might need to be replaced as leader if the party does badly in next year's European elections. The views of Lord O'Neill will stagger many close to the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Labour failed last night in an attempt to win the Baillieston seat from the SNP in a council by-election held in Glasgow's East End.

It was a week in which once again the process of Government has played second to the issue of Gordon Brown's survival.

From one of his closest allies last night, there was a blunt assessment.

Lord O'Neill said: "If we had a situation next June, after the European elections, that Labour was really very badly routed, then I think there would have to be very serious discussions and I suspect that there would probably have to be a change of leadership then."

Mr Brown's difficulties could not have helped Labour in yesterday's Baillieston By Election. The contest was caused by the election of John Mason to Westminster at the end of July.

Yesterday's contest was close. On first preference votes the SNP edged Labour out with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats miles behind.

The electronic voting system worked well unlike a previous council by-election in South Lanarkshire. Once again, there was jubilation for the SNP.

Councillor David Turner said: "People were telling us on the doorstep they were fed up with the Labour Party,� it was time for a change, not only in Glasgow but in Scotland and the SNP was in the ascendancy, and we are the party of the future."

Like the Westminster parliamentary by-election at the end of July, this was a close run thing. Yet again the SNP have won, holding John Mason's council seat, but not too much can be read into this with a turnout of less than 25%.

Labour's American-style campaigning backfires

From Glasgow SNP, 18 th September 2008

Commenting on the result of the Baillieston council by-election result where the SNP overturned a 13% Labour lead in 1st preference votes the SNP Business Convener and Westminster leader Angus Robertson said it reinforced the SNP's positive message that it was the party of the future.

Commenting on the result Mr Robertson said: "This result was described by the Press Association as a 'triumph' for the SNP after we overturned a 13% Labour lead in first preference votes. It is all the more significant since it is the first time EVER that we have held a seat in a Glasgow Council by-election.

"David Turner will make an excellent councillor for Baillieston and his well-deserved victory reflects our success in the Glasgow East by-election.

"It is a further humiliation for Labour and shows how out of touch they have become with the people of the East End of Glasgow. For decades they have taken them for granted and paid the price.

"The adoption of American-style campaigning by Labour council leader Steven Purcell has backfired and left the Labour party with more egg on their faces."

Notes:

1. The result of first preference votes was:

Party 1st Pref votes % Change

SNP 2318 44.61% 11.37%

Labour 2167 41.71% -4.27%

Tories 259 4.98% -1.55%

LibDem 159 3.06% -0.72%

Solidarity 74 1.42% -3.07%

BNP 73 1.4% n/a

SSP 58 1.12% -1.04%

Green 45 0.87% -0.88%

SUP 43 0.83% -1.25%

2. The final vote tally was:

SNP 2,511 (52.10%)
Lab 2,313 (47.90%)

3. From Steven Purcell's interview with the Scotland on Sunday's Spectrum magazine last Sunday:

"We are soon motoring along Duke Street. Away from the City Chambers, Purcell seems more relaxed. He loves campaigning, and spent a recent holiday in Florida helping out the Democrats and Barack Obama. "I know it's a terrible thing to say," he laughs, "but I can't take to John McCain. He doesn't look like a president. He looks like your grandad."

"Purcell returned to Glasgow with some American ideas about how to run a campaign. Recognising that the public, especially in this part of the city, have had their fill of party politics, activists have been distributing posters and leaflets which make no mention of Labour and use purple rather than traditional red. Based around the slogan 'Who is Andy Muir?', these materials form the basis of a teaser campaign designed to build interest in the candidate. Everyone connected with the campaign seems tickled by this wheeze, and that's important, too - it cheers and energises the party faithful who were in a slump after the disaster of Glasgow East. It would be sweet revenge on the Nationalists to win Baillieston on Thursday."

SNP holds on to Mason's old seat

From the Scotsman, 20 th September 2008

THE SNP has held the local government seat left vacant by John Mason, who resigned to fight - and win - the Glasgow East by-election in July.

David Turner was elected to represent the Baillieston ward on Glasgow City Council, with Labour's Andy Muir in second place.

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