SNP take Glasgow council seats from Labour in two by-elections

The Scottish National Party has taken two Glasgow City Council seats from Labour in by-elections on Friday.

Mhairi Hunter was declared the winner in the Southside Central Ward 8, and Donna McGill was declared the North-East Ward 21 winner.

Both seats were formerly held by Labour councillors.

The race was close between SNP and Labour in both wards, but Nigel Farage’s Reform party scored a significant 23.6% of votes in Glasgow North-East with candidate Rob Maddison coming in third overall.

The Glasgow North-East by-election was called after Labour’s Mary McNab was disqualified after failing to follow legislation which meant she needed to quit from her council job – disqualifying her from being a councillor.

The by-election for Southside Central followed the death of veteran Labour councillor Jim Scanlon, who was described by colleagues as “loving family man” and a “relentless” fighter against poverty.

Green candidate Laura Vroomen came third with 21.5% of votes in Southside Central.

In total, 3,749 people turned out to vote in Southside Central and Mhairi Hunter took the ward with 1,126 votes. Labour candidate Samina Rashid was close behind with 1,027.

1,998 people turned up to vote in North-East and Donna McGill took the ward with 689 votes for the SNP. Labour candidate Debbie Duffy was second with 573. Reform came third with 472 votes.

Returning Officer Susanne Millar made the declaration at the Glasgow City Chambers on Friday.