Labour has lost one of its safest seats to SNP's John Mason. SNP were elected after Labour demanded a recount on SNP's majority of 365..

 

Margaret Curran was defending a 13,507 majority from the past general election in 2005, where voter turnout was at 42% down from a previous 49%. A recount was demanded after doubt on the possible confusion to Margaret Curran namesake Francis Curran from Scottish Socialist Party.

 

The result proved to be another humiliating defeat for Gordon Brown’s Government and one can only wonder on the timing of certain policies being announced which may have influenced the voters of Glasgow East.

This seat would have given Gordon Brown the breathing space needed to win voters confidence but now only reaffirms that change is needed for Labour to win confidence on a dissatisfied backbench.

 

Results as below:

Chris Creighton, Independent                                                      67

Frances Curran, Scottish Socialist Party                                    555

Margaret Curran, Scottish Labour Party                                      10,912

Eileen Duke, Scottish Green Party                                               232

Hamish Howitt, Freedom-4-Choice                                             65

John Mason, Scottish National Party                                           11,277

Tricia McLeish, Solidarity                                                                512

Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party     1639

Ian Robertson, Scottish Liberal Democrats                                915