Well, it looks like they’ve done it: the SNP have slashed a Labour majority of over 13,000 to win the parliamentary seat of Glasgow East with a new Nationalist majority of just 365 votes. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats came third and fourth, but with 1,693 and 915 votes respectively, this was very much a two-pony race between Labour’s Margaret Curran (above, left) and the SNP’s John Mason (above, right).
While Glasgow East is deep in the heart of Labour territory, pundits were saying this was going to be a close one. The defection of Catholics is likely to have played a significant role in Labour’s defeat. In the past year, Labour have legalized the creation of animal-human hybrids as well as siblings designed solely for the harvesting of their organs, and this campaign has been vociferously opposed by Catholics around the Union. Mr. Mason made sure to thank those who had prayed for him in his victory speech.
“This is an absolutely remarkable result,” said Angus Robertson, SNP leader at Westminster, “it’s Labour’s third-safest seat — rock-solid territory. Now it’s over. People have had enough and Gordon Brown had better listen because at the next Westminster election the SNP is coming.”
This is the second “safe” Labour seat lost in a by-election in just three months.
Cranmer:
SNP victory in Glasgow East – the Christians won it
the Daily Telegraph:
Labour suffers humiliating defeat as SNP celebrates
the Times:
Nightmare result for Gordon Brown as SNP triumph over Labour in Glasgow East
the Guardian:
Glasgow East byelection victory adds remarkable new chapter to SNP history
Google News:
Glasgow East
I hope you’re relishing this victory as much as I am! This is an electoral Lepanto!
I’m not entirely sure why replacing one left wing populist with another, who carries the added negative element of Scottish nationalism, should be celebrated.
Even as a Conservative myself, I’d have been happier to have seen Labour in than the SNP.