Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Thumbs up from the SNP
Steven Bonnar, right, of the SNP is Coatbridge’s new MP after winning the constituency from Hugh Gaffney in Thursday’s general election.
He overturned Labour’s 2017 win to take the seat with a majority of more than 5000, meaning the seat has now changed hands at each of the past three Westminster polls.
The new MP headed to the House of Commons for the first time this week – alongside party colleague Neil Gray, left, who retained Airdrie & Shotts for a third time.
Neil Gray says his stance on the proposed Monklands Hospital move was a key factor in his re- election in Airdrie & Shotts – and a “phenomenal” campaign saw him restore a four- figure majority.
Returned to Westminster for a third time since 2015, he took 45 per cent of the vote and earned a majority of 5201 to join 47 other SNP members heading for the House of Commons this week.
Along with the hospital, Mr Gray says public transport and local services will be among his key priorities for his new term; along with the constitutional issue of his party’s battle for a second referendum on independence.
In his speech at the declaration in the early hours of Friday morning, he said: “I’ve stood to keep Monklands Hospital in the Airdrie area and stop it going to Gartcosh – I hope there’s a big lesson for NHS Lanarkshire and that they look at this result and see a very strong vindication of the campaign we’ve fought.
“Gartcosh must now be taken firmly off the table as an option for the new Monklands Hospital.
“People were clearly enthused by the work that I’ve been doing on Monklands Hospital and understand the position I’ve taken and the work I’ve done with Alex Neil MSP and Jeane Freeman to get a review on the location.
“The hospital will still be a key priority for me, and I’ll be working hard to repay the faith placed in me for a third time by the people of Airdrie & Shotts.”
He said of his constituency outcome: “This result was more clear-cut than last time round – politics is in a different place, and while I’m very pleased with the results here and elsewhere in Scotland, I’m very disappointed at the complete collapse of the Labour party; their inability to show any leadership elsewhere in the UK has resulted in a majority Boris Johnson- led Conservative government which is going to be incredibly damaging for Scotland.
“It’s clear that Scotland and the rest of the UK have taken very divergent paths. There’s a decisive result here for the SNP and elsewhere for the Conservatives, which I take no pleasure from, but the people of Scotland have spoken and need to be respected.
“Boris Johnson thinks he may have an easy ride now with a large majority, but he has to respect the overwhelming shift to the SNP in Scotland, off the back of Conservative and Labour campaigns that said every single vote for the SNP was a vote closer to a second independence referendum – so they’re going to be eating their words.”