Jo Swinson wins East Dunbartonshire ballot battle
IN a night of overall disappointment for the Liberal Democrats, it was a victory in East Dunbartonshire for sitting MP Jo Swinson who retained her target seat — though with a reduced majority.
The district's turnout of 75.2 percent, was again amongst the highest nationally with 47,948 people casting their vote.
Jo Swinson swept into post in 2005 as the youngest MP at Westminster at the age of 25 polling 19,533 votes.
But after her high campaigning profile throughout the term — geared up to near overdrive in recent months — it was believed by the LibDems that the young star of their party would swell that majority this time round — but instead it was virtually halved at 2,184.
While Jo's vote fell from 19,533 to 18,551 — Mary Galbraith for Labour scooped 16,367 against John Lyon's 15,472 performance in 2005.
There was bitter disappointment in the ranks of the SNP, who after their success in the local elections — taking eight seats to form the biggest opposition party to the Tory/Labour administration — had high hopes of similar victory, not ruling out coming second to the LibDems.
However, they polled just 5,054 and although up on the 2,716 vote of 2005 — the result was below the SNP expectation this time round.
Mark Nolan for the Conservaties in third place could take heart from the fact that while his party took only one seat in Scotland, in East Dunbartonshire he took 7,431 votes, down marginally from David Jack's 7,708 in 2005, while Bearsden's James Beeley standing for the UK Independence Party polled votes 545.
East Dunbartonshsire Council's chief executive and returning officer Gerry Cornes said: "I'd like to thank the candidates and their agents, my election team, enumerators, polling place teams, the police and everyone who helped the election and the count in the East Dunbartonshire constituency run smoothly."
Jo Swinson said: "I have loved the privilege of representing East Dunbartonshire for the past five years and am delighted the people again have put their trust in me.
"Trust to take up issues such as getting the best possible result for the community in the Kilmardinny development debacle and being a voice for the people over the much opposed Tesco proposal — as well as being a strong and active voice for East Dunbartonshire in Westminster.
"I will continue to campaign for a fairer society while fulfilling pledges made during my election campaign.
"The turnout of 75 per cent was great news and showed people in East Dunbartonshire were really engaged in the election campaign — a great victory for democracy."
Mary Galbraith for Labour said: "I am disappointed for the people of East Dunbartonshire with the overall outcome of the election, especially if the LibDems get into coalition with the Tories — as we always suggested they would — because modest income families will be particularly hard hit.
"And that means the majority of households in Milngavie and Bearsden will lose out.
"Both these parties have local families in their sights, with Child Benefit, Tax Credits and Trust Funds at risk.
"So the average family locally will be thousands of pounds worse off each year if the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition comes to fruition.
"For our part we are pleased that we mounted a good campaign — and a fair one — even if our Labour team is bitterly disappointed with the result. We halved the Liberal majority, and increased our vote, while Jo Swinson's vote declined.
"The Labour Party is totally committed to this Parliamentary seat, and we know that many, many local people are keen for us to succeed."
Tory candidate Mark Nolan said: "I am obviously disappointed with the final result in East Dunbartonshire but the UK wide results have shown a significant swing to the Conservatives. Labour have clearly been defeated and a new government led by David Cameron is clearly the change that people want."
Though disappointed, SNP candidate Iain White was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "I congratulate Jo Swinson on retaining her seat and thank the other candidates for the clean nature of the campaign.
"Most of all, I thank all those who voted SNP, nearly doubling the vote from the 2005 Westminster election and giving the greatest increase, 4.7 per cent, of any party.
"These 5,054 voters were swayed by neither the "Keep Tory out" nor the "Keep Labour out" messages.
"Locally, these voters appreciated the SNP councillors saving the Allander sports centre and killing the LibDem-inspired Kilmardinny development.
"Nationally, they appreciated the quality of the Scottish National Party government in Scotland in health, education and in justice.
"In just three years the SNP minority government has achieved more than the Labour -LibDem coalition governments of the previous eight years.
"Most importantly, these voters were not swayed during this election by the hostile background of the national press and broadcasters trying to stifle the aspirations of Scotland and its people."
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
