FAIR CONTEST

Beaten candidates’reactions

The beaten Glasgow South candidates have been unanimous in their praise for each other in fighting a fair campaign.

While ugly scenes marred some of the election campaign, in Glasgow South the various hustings and debates passed without any incidents of note.

Conservative Kyle Thornton, who finished third with 4752 votes, said: “It was a pleasure to stand for election in Glasgow South.

“I want to thank all of those who voted for me allowing me to take my party from fourth to third place and increase the actual number of Conservative votes.

“This campaign has certainly been interesting and I think it is a testament to all of us who competed here that we kept it mostly policy focused and were not tempted to indulge in personality politics.

“I want to wish Stewart McDonald all the best in representing Glasgow South.

“I’m delighted that we now have a Conservative Government which will allow us to balance the books, hold an EU referendum and deliver tax cuts for the lowest paid.

“The nation now has the stability it needs to be able to continue creating jobs and growing the economy and with David Cameron as our Prime Minister, I’m confident that we have a Government that will always be on Britain’s side.

“It will also be a Government that will ensure Scotland’s decision last September is respected and acted upon.”

Green candidate Alastair Whitelaw came fourth, taking 1431 votes and 2.9 per cent of the vote.

He said: “The Greens, nationally and locally, are very pleased with the result. We increased our share of the vote in every constituency where we stood in 2010, and stood against this year.

“To do so at a time when there was a big squeeze between two larger parties in Labour and the SNP is absolutely fantastic.

“Apart from the numbers, we got a very favourable reaction from others and we think a lot of people will vote for us in the regional lists for Holyrood next year.

“In Glasgow South, we had five or six hustings meetings, and most of the time they were conducted in a constructive way, and the audiences wanted sensible answers. They were good meetings, and very well attended too.

“It’s interesting that in this age of mass media, people still want to attend local election meetings and see the candidates perform.”

Liberal Democrat Ewan Hoyle came fifth in the poll, with 1019 votes, and 2.1 per cent of the poll - down 9.5 per cent.

He said: “Election night was pretty brutal for the Liberal Democrats. A lot of good, hardworking people who have been tireless servants to their constituents, bore the brunt of a campaign that presented us as a middle-of-the-road, moderating influence on two moderately competent alternatives.

“The Liberal Democrats are better than that, and it’s up to me and my colleagues to persuade you of this fact. We have to break out of short-term, point-scoring politics, and demonstrate a longterm vision for a better Scotland: A Scotland where we can afford to fund our health service and policing because we place fewer demands upon those services. A Scotland where young people see the police as allies, and not adversaries.

“I’m sorry we messed up at this election, but we’ve had over 9000 new members joining since Thursday. We’re a big, compassionate, loving family in Scotland, trying hard to find the best answers to society’s challenges. I’m sure you’d enjoy being part of that too.”

Brian Smith of the Scottish Trade Union and Socialist Coalition came sixth with 299 votes.

He added: “Thank you to those people in Glasgow South who voted TUSC - a vote for socialism is never a wasted vote.

“To those people in recent weeks who said they agreed with our 100 per cent anti-austerity, prosocialist ideas but decided not to vote TUSC at this stage then we hope that you will in the future and just as importantly support and get involved in the anti-austerity campaigns in the city.

“We are pleased that socialist ideas have featured in the Glasgow South campaign and delighted at the positive response from many people to the case for a fundamental change in our society. TUSC will build on these foundations over the coming months. Socialism is the future.”

We kept it mostly policy focused - Conservative Kyle Thornton