Blow for Labour as party lose majority in Glasgow

Wednesday, 14 March 2012 17:36

The SNP have today welcomed Councillor Shaukat Butt leaving the Labour Party which results in the Labour group losing their majority in Glasgow City Chambers, less than two months before the local authority elections.

Sandra White, SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, said this was further evidence that the council elections on May 3rd present a great opportunity for the people of Glasgow to move their city forward.

She said: “The SNP was founded in Glasgow 78 years ago and many of our most important electoral breakthroughs happened here. Now the people of Glasgow will have the chance to add to that by electing an SNP council that will work day and night to help this great city flourish once more.

“Major infrastructure investments like the M74 extension and the new Southern General Hospital show our commitment to the city – as does the investment linked to the Commonwealth Games which will deliver a great legacy to the whole city.

“Glasgow has always been and always will be at the SNP’s heart and is central to our vision of a progressive, fairer and more democratic Scotland.”

James Dornan, SNP MSP for Cathcart, added:

“I am pleased that Councillor Butt finally took the decision to leave the Labour Party, they have nothing to offer the people who live here. Glaswegians deserve so much better.”

Comments

# Hirta 2012-03-14 18:05

Another nail in the coffin of Noo Labour

# mealer 2012-03-14 18:12

Councillor Butt has,apparently, stated he will vote with the concil until the elections in May.He intends to stand in May,but I’m not sure if it will be as an independent or as part of the deselected group.
I really hope Glasgow votes in a decent bunch of councillors in May.The kind that will put the people first.

# Jiggsbro 2012-03-14 18:13

They’ve not really lost their majority, though. Butt will still vote with Labour, even if he’s returned as an Independent, and I expect some of the others who flounced off in a huff when they were deselected will do the same. They’ll lose control in May, but until then they’ll limp on. Any suggestion that they’d use the next two months to feather their nests would probably be modded out, so I won’t bother making it.

# Cp9fl 2012-03-14 18:39

Lol Labour in meltdown mode ! Glasgow deserves so much more and will choose the correct party in May.

# Roll_On_2011 2012-03-14 19:08

So Butt will assist Labour over the final 2 months of Labours demise in Glasgow.

Primarily these separatist’s from Labour will aid the SNP on May 3rd, by splitting the Labour vote in the wards they currently represent. The extent of the split will be relevant to the induvidial Councillors standing in his/her ward.

The Labour train crash continues……

# Hing em high 2012-03-14 19:19

It is hard to see him getting back in if he doesn’t have the support of what is now a crumbling broken down political machine.

The fact that he still intends to vote with Labour on the council suggests that he is after something and his resignation is a little suspect.

# Christian_Wright 2012-03-14 19:31

Moderator / Webmaster

Unfortunate juxtaposition of two headlines on the NNS main page led me here. They suggested an intriguing proposition and solicited an irresistible need to click. Perhaps greater spacing between the two would prevent future misapprehension s.

“Blow for Labour as party lose majority in Beaver lovers – night time safaris in Glasgow”

(They don’t write them like that anymore)

# Marga B 2012-03-14 19:41

It’s not that simple. This guy is suspended from membership due to a (nasty) pending court case as well as being de-selected, but in spite of this on the face of it desperate situation, it seems they are all still good friends: according to Labour:

“He is keen to contest the local election, which means he can’t stay part of the Labour group, but he is continuing to support and vote for Labour.”

Not sure if I was a Glasgow Labour voter I’d be too thrilled at SNP crowing about this, but then what would I know.

# Islegard 2012-03-14 19:41

Not much of a split if they all carry on supporting the Labour Party. Sounds more like business as usual. They’ve not really lost their majority if “ex-Labour” still supports Labour. Maybe they appear more electable if they pretend they’re no longer in Labour. They can rejoin after the election.

# Roll_On_2011 2012-03-14 20:04

Islegard

“ Not much of a split if they all carry on supporting the Labour Party. Sounds more like business as usual. They’ve not really lost their majority if “ex-Labour” still supports Labour. Maybe they appear more electable if they pretend they’re no longer in Labour. They can rejoin after the election. “

I think you miss the point behind my comment. On May 3rd if the ex-Labour Councillors stand it will NOT be as Labour candidates. For example they may stand as Independents or under any other name they chose and in those circumstances they will more than likely take votes from Labour…. ie reducing the Labour count… this can only help the SNP.

At a Council ward count they don’t normally allocate Council seats on an aggregate of 2 parties…. Labour + Independent, they stand and fall separately.

# Islegard 2012-03-14 20:17

Hi Roll,

Doesn’t this increase their chances of electing a placeman. Rather than splitting the vote they have 2 opportunities to get elected. Once the election is over they can either rejoin the Labour Party or continue to give 100% support for the Labour Party. Wouldn’t this also give them twice the coverage and twice the opportunity to attack the SNP?

# weegie38 2012-03-14 20:29

Quoting Roll_On_2011:

At a Council ward count they don’t normally allocate Council seats on an aggregate of 2 parties…. Labour + Independent, they stand and fall separately.

If this was a first past the post election you’d be right, but the council elections are STV, which means voters list candidates 1,2,3 and then 3 or 4 councillors get elected for each ward.
The worry with STV is that multi member wards tend to spread the councillors out among the parties: the cynic in me wonders whether this supposed splintering of Labour is a ploy to get more candidates elected.

In general, I’d say having more candidates from multiple parties on the ballot paper won’t help the SNP.

# Marga B 2012-03-14 20:40

They do seem to be surprisingly chummy. Something could be afoot. They have form for doing creative things that seem to be successfully kept below the radar of other parties (Glenrothes?).

# Drew1314 2012-03-14 21:25

@Marga B

Just had a discussion on twitter with a local Tory (D&G;) aparently two loyal Labour councillors jumped ship to stand as Independent (Stranraer Ward).

Theory is they (Labour) will get the first and second vote.

# Marga B 2012-03-14 22:03

Makes sense, Drew. This time at least people are forewarned.

Has anyone heard any more about the lady who was threatened, the hysterics of the spurned candidates?

# Ben Power 2012-03-14 19:51

Unless the defectors from Labour actually join the SNP it would appear that they are just Trying to shed the smell of Labour to retain their seats. I could have that wrong though.

# Drew1314 2012-03-14 21:30

@Ben Power

See post above.

# Hing em high 2012-03-14 22:31

It is unfortunate for Labour that there are big elections in England that same day. They cant jump them in by the bus load to whip out the flock.

# John Lyons 2012-03-15 12:25

It all depends on the individual. Council elections are probaly affected more by personality and individuals than any other election. If the current councillor is viewed by the people as doing a good job they’ll probably get back in regardless of supposed party allegiance.

The only benefit of this to the SNP is that it looks like Rats deserting a sinking ship and some of the more astute Labour voters might sit up and take notice and consider putting thier cross elsewhere.
Having said that, it might very well be in a box for these very people who are leaving Labour rather than in a box for the SNP…

# Talorcan 2012-03-15 20:44

Boy, you really have to admire those people who are standing for the SNP in Glasgow. I really think they’re brave. Glasgow politics being what they are it’ll be like trying to swim across a loch only to find you’ve just dived into a sewer.
Make sure you keep your chins up guys and gals.

# raisethegame 2012-03-19 16:21

Frank McAveety bares his soul:

“Jobless like me need more aid, says ex-MSP”
“….He is still unemployed and said being jobless for the first time had helped him appreciate the misery faced by people on the dole…..”

heraldscotland.com/…/…

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Blow for Labour as party lose majority in Glasgow

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