THE SNP gained a seat from Labour in one of the two Glasgow by-elections held yesterday.
The Baillieston by-election was triggered when long-serving Labour councillor Jim Coleman was “sacked” for failing to attend council meetings for six months.
At the time, Coleman, who had served for 33 years, said: "I have been caught out by legislation which fails to recognise the work that I have continued to do and have always done in my community.”
The results of the vote were published this afternoon, with the SNP gaining 43.8% of first preference votes, a decrease of 0.8 points, Labour gaining 28.3%, a decrease of 0.5 points, the Tories gaining 20.9%, no chance from 2017, and the Greens gaining 4.4% - doubling their vote from the previous election.
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Meanwhile the LibDems won 2%, an increase of 0.1 points, and Ukip won 0.6%. The SNP were elected at stage six, making David Turner the area’s newest councillor.
The turnout in Baillieston was just 24.9%, down 15.6% on the latest local vote there.
Online, SNP members congratulated the newly elected representative.
An SNP councillor for the Calton ward shared a photo of Turner in a Saltire face mask in the City Chambers after he learned of his win.
Congratulations to Baillieston’s newest Cllr @DavidTurnerW20 ! Great work by David, @JenLaydenSNP, @CllrBallantyne and all activists! @SNPforGlasgow pic.twitter.com/l2Ryrt1uzT
— Cllr Greg Hepburn (@FlashHepburn) March 19, 2021
Kirsten Oswald, Stewart McDonald, David Linden and Susan Aitken were among those sending their well wishes.
Meanwhile in the west of the city, Labour gained a council seat previously held by Conservative Tony Curtis. He lost his seat for non attendance, similarly to Coleman.
On first preferences the SNP came out on top with 32.1% of the vote, but Labour were close behind with 28.3% - an increase of 10.7 points on the previous election.
The Greens came third with 18.5%, up 2.1 points, while the Tories came fourth with 16.7%, down 5.5 points.
Votes at the final head-to-head stage saw Labour secure 45.1% and the SNP win 43.3%.
The area will now be represented by councillor Jill Brown.
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A by-election on the Isle of Bute was won by independent Liz McCabe, who secured 20.4% of the first preference votes before being elected at stage five.
And in Helensburgh and Lomond South, the Tories secured just over 50% of all first preference votes – gaining them the formerly LibDem seat.
The by-election there was called after the death of long-serving councillor Ellen Morton last year.
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