SNP holds off surge by Labour to hang on to six of seven Glasgow seats
ELECTION 2017
THE SNP survived a Labour surge in Glasgow and held on to six of the city’s seven seats.
Majorities of more than 10,000 won only two years ago crumbled as Labour staged a fight back providing results even those within the party did not expect party.
The SNP held Glasgow North, Glasgow East, South West, North West and Central and South.
The shock of the night in the city was Glasgow East, where Paul Sweeney took back the seat for Labour with a narrow majority.
Two seats were won by majorities of less than 100 votes once the ballots were counted.
David Linden held Glasgow East for the SNP by just 75 from Labour’s Kate Watson.
Mr Linden previously worked for Alison Thewliss, and he said that experience would help in his new role.
Chris Stephens held South West by 60 votes after a recount was considered but rejected.
In Glasgow Central, Alison Thewliss defended her seat and pledged to continue her campaigns on poverty and women’s issues at Westminster.
She said: “This is a very different election to the 2015 election, being fought by a Tory party that weren’t going to fight in Scotland on the issues, they were only going to fight on stopping a second independence referendum.”
She pledged to fight for women, in particular carrying on her campaign against the two child tax credit cap and the rape clause.
In Glasgow South West, Chris Stephens won by just 60 votes over Labour’s Matt Kerr.
Mr Stephens praised his rival’s campaign and said they two agreed on much and shared many political beliefs. He said: “I pledge I will be a left wing anti-austerity Member of Parliament.”
In Glasgow North, Patrick Grady faced a strong challenge from La- bour’s Pam Duncan-Glancey. The SNP won by 12,597 to Labour’s 11,537.
Mr Grady said: “The fact we have been able to run the campaign we did and achieve this result shows the impact we have been able to make over the past couple of years.
“Sevety eight per cent of Glasgow North voted to remain in the EU last year.
“I think it shows they want Scotland’s voice to be heard.”
In Glasgow South, Stewart McDonald won in a seat less close than the others. The SNP polled 18,312 to Labour’s 16,285.
Mr McDonald pledged to continue the fight for Glasgow Jobcentres. He said: “The Tory campaign to close half of Glasgow’s Jobcentres has been halted by the voters in Glasgow tonight.”
Other seats which, when the campaign started seven weeks ago, were considered safe SNP were in danger of switching back to Labour.
In Glasgow North West, Carol Monaghan held off Labour’s Michael Shanks by 16,508 to 13,947.