Council keeps Labour majority
May 5, 2012 by Grace Franklin · Leave a Comment
Glasgow City Council continues to have a Labour Party majority following the local government election.
An estatic Labour Group Leader, Gordon Matheson (centre right) with Councillor George Redmond, Deputy Scottish Labour Party Leader MP Anas Sarwar and MP Margaret Curran, Shadow Secretary of State.
It has 44 seats compared to 47 after the previous election. The SNP have 27 seats compared to 19 before. The Green Party have five seats which is the same as before but with a couple of new people. The Tory Party still has David Meikle flying the flag in Pollokshields. There is one Independent – Stephen Dornan who won Govan as a Glasgow First candidate.
A delighted Glasgow First Councillor Stephen Dornan of Govan surrounded by his family and friends.
He is a disenchanted Labour Party Councillor. The Liberal Democrats – who held six seats in the previous administration – returned only one person – Margot Clark in Linn Ward which was the first to be called on the day.
Commented Labour elder statesman Mohammad Sarwar who was the first Muslim to become an Westminster MP: ‘When the Labour Party is united across all levels – Westminster, Hollyrood and Local Authority –it is unbeatable. If the SNP had won Glasgow they would have claimed that as a victory for independence. But people are too frightened to separate the UK. And it must also be said that the Labour team put in a lot of hard work and effort.’
Said Gordon Matheson who was Labour Group leader last time round: ‘I’m delighted personally and delighted for all the candidates. We will work with all parties and draw strength from others. Our priority is the people of Glasgow so it’s back to work for them, now.’
Youngest of the new SNP Councillors is 18-year-old Austin Sheridan,
Austin is the youngest SNP on the Council seen with his pal Keenan Alexander from Scottish Youth Parliament days who didn't get a seat on his first election.
elected in Baillieston. He was an active Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) – and said: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled. The fact that we had two SNP seats in Baillieston in 2007 at the last council elections and we’ve won two today, shows that we can hold a seat once we’ve gained it.’
Said Green Party Councillor Dr Nina Baker: ‘We are very pleased and have done better than all prediction. We have two great, new Councillors in Liam Hainey in Langside and Martin Bartos in Partick West. With Martha Wardrop re-elected in Hillhead, Kieran Wild in Canal and myself in Anderston/City we are well pleased with our five.’
Glasgow's new Green team: Dr Martin Bartos, Dr Nina Baker, Liam Hainey, Martha Wardrop, Kieran Wild.
