The balance of power has tipped in a number of Glasgow council areas, as Labour and the Greens got more councillors elected on Friday.
Labour swept to new heights in Shettleston, Linn, Calton and the North East wards after Tory and SNP losses during the council election.
The SNP have an additional politician in Pollokshields while the Greens have new councillors in Southside Central, Victoria Park and Newlands, Auldburn after three gains
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Newly elected Catherine Vallis joined Labour leader Malcolm Cunning in Linn where the party gained a seat after a Conservative loss.
Newly elected councillors voted into wards boasting party seat gains:
Zen Ghani |
SNP | Pollokshields |
Elaine Gallagher |
Greens | Southside Central |
Leodhas Iain Massie |
Greens | Newlands/Auldburn |
Lana Reid-McConnell |
Greens | Victoria Park |
Catherine Vallis |
Labour | Linn |
Jill Pidgeon |
Labour | Shettleston |
George Redmond |
Labour | Calton |
Sharon Greer |
Labour | North East |
Commenting after the result, Ms Vallis said: “It was a good hard run campaign. We got a lot of support from activists. It could not have been done without them.”
Single mum Jill Pidgeon is a new Labour councillor representing Shettleston where the party gained a seat after the SNP lost one compared to 2017.
Reacting to the outcome, Ms Pidgeon said: “‘I’m absolutely delighted to have won. People are fed up with what is going on with the state of the city. I was up against people who have been elected for years.”
Labour fellow ward councillor Frank McAveety, a former council leader and MSP, said she “will be a fantastic councillor.”
The party also celebrated in the North East ward with the return of Maureen Burke and newly elected Sharon Greer following an SNP loss.
Commenting on social media, Ms Greer said: "I am truly honoured to have been elected along with Councillor Burke to represent the good people of Glasgow North East.”
Calton also saw a Labour gain with Cecilia O’Lone re-elected and a new councillor George Redmond getting in as the Conservatives failed to hold.
Compared to the 2017 election result, Labour also saw a gain held, first secured at a by election in 2021, in Partick East/Kelvindale. Solicitor Jill Brown was re-elected alongside Lilith Johnstone for the party.
Councillor Brown said she is “so humbled the people of Partick East, Kelvindale put their trust” in Labour again.
The SNP landed an extra councillor in Pollokshields after Conservative David Meikle lost his seat. The ward now has two SNP councillors - newly elected and long serving Norman Macleod.
Councillor Ghani said: “I am absolutely delighted the people of Pollokshields have put their faith in me - a local resident to stand up for local people.”
Councillor Macleod said: “I’m absolute delighted for Zen Ghani. He will make a wonderful councillor. I’m indebted to my constituents for being kind enough to re-elect me.”
The Greens gained three seats since 2017 in Southside Central, Victoria Park and Newlands and Auldburn.
New Southside Central Councillor Elaine Gallagher said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be the first trans councillor in Glasgow City. I’m looking forward to looking after the people of Southside Central.”
The SNP’s Mhairi Hunter didn’t get re-elected.
Leodhas Iain Massie is the first Green councillor for Newlands, Auldburn while Lana Reid-McConnell has been elected for the party in Victoria Park.
In Newlands, Auldburn and Victoria Park the Conservatives failed to hold on to seats.
The election count on Friday saw the SNP emerge with 37 seats followed by Labour with 36, the Greens with 10 and Conservatives with two.
The administration is yet to be decided as no party had enough of a majority to take overall control.
