New council will benefit our towns
Last week’s council election has seen seismic shifts in the makeup of councils across Scotland.
In South Lanarkshire the SNP is now the largest party on the council and will seek to progress its ambitious manifesto to improve services and empower communities.
Across the Rutherglen Scottish parliamentary constituency, SNP representation has doubled, from three to six, with SNP councillors in all five wards.
Carol Nugent topped the poll in Rutherglen South. Carol was born in Rutherglen and works in Cambuslang.
Mum of two, Janine Calikes, who topped the poll in Rutherglen Central and North, also grew up and works in Rutherglen.
Both Carol and Janine have considerable experience in helping constituents with a variety of issues and will be strong advocates for Rutherglen.
John Bradley, who was elected in Cambuslang West, is a former care home manager, and registered nurse.
In Cambuslang East Alistair Fulton, who is a structural engineer, brings valuable planning skills to his role as a councillor. Katy Loudon, formerly a librarian and a teacher, was also elected in Cambuslang East.
Katy is also an experienced caseworker.
Together, John, Alistair and Katy will champion the regeneration of Cambuslang.
Unfortunately, the voting system threw up some disappointments also and two sitting councillors, Clare McColl and Gordon Clark were not reelected.
I would like to thank them for all the hard work they have put in over the years for their communities in Cambuslang and Rutherglen, and wish them well for the future.
The SNP won the local elections in Scotland with more seats and more votes than any other party.
It is also the largest party in more councils than any other party. The results show that more people are putting their trust in the SNP to stand firm against the increasingly hard line Tory government.
The SNP success in the council elections is built on a record of achievement in government, in delivering the best healthcare anywhere in the UK, helping businesses to thrive and focusing above all on education and equipping our young people to achieve their very best in life.
SNP councils will guarantee more affordable housing, a transformation in early learning and childcare, investment in our schools, more money and power for local communities and increased support for small businesses.
The Tory claims that they would win councils with an anti-independence majority failed to materialise, as the party came a distant second to the SNP. Labour’s vote collapsed in Scotland, and across the UK, while the Lib Dems failed to make up any ground.
Where the Tories have made advances this has been at the expense of Labour, which has lost one third of its councillors, showing it is no longer a major force.
Your new SNP councillors will work hard to serve their constituents, and I look forward to working with them, to make Scotland’s communities stronger, safer and more successful places to live and work in.
The SNP won the local elections in Scotland