| The results in Glasgow East certainly has consequences for Gordon Brown and his government, however the results could also have repercussions for Labour in West Dunbartonshire.
Many political shows during the week have commented that Labour will be left with one seat in Scotland, if the results from Glasgow East, which was won by our very own John Mason (pictured above), were replicated across the country. However this will not happen (maybe, but impossibly unlikely) – except for West Dunbartonshire.
In 2005, the SNP gained 9047 votes, almost 12,600 less than John McFall’s vote. But a number of factors in Scotland, London and in Dumbarton make things look very shaky for Labour.
Firstly the Labour government in London is extremely unpopular and they are carrying out policy that is contrary to the needs of Scotland; second, the SNP government in Edinburgh has carried out a great number of its pledges in just over a year in government, far greater than the Labour/Liberal coalition did in 8 years, including scrapping the graduate endowment, increasing police numbers, making prescriptions free, freezing the council tax and much more. Finally in the Dumbarton constituency in 2007, the SNP’s Graeme McCormick (now candidate for West Dunbartonshire) produced a swing of 8.9% to the SNP, reducing Jackie Baillie’s majority to just under 1,700.
It is expected the SNP will maintain and even increase its vote in West Dunbartonshire and with factors such as the above, we could just see a change in politics in West Dunbartonshire.
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