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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Ross Hunter

Labour-run council deletes by-election tweet after red graphics row

A LABOUR-run council has been forced to delete a post encouraging people to vote in a by-election after it appeared to favour one party.

As the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election got under way on Thursday, South Lanarkshire Council posted a graphic on Twitter/X which featured a ballot paper with a cross beside a box saying “Vote”.

The post read: “You should vote using an X for your preferred candidate on your paper for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election”.

The National: An SNP councillor asked whether the colour used in the graphic was appropriate for use by a Labour-run council on by-election dayAn SNP councillor asked whether the colour used in the graphic was appropriate for use by a Labour-run council on by-election day (Image: South Lanarkshire Council)

However, the box was coloured red – the traditional colour of the Labour Party – leading one Glasgow City councillor to ask whether it was an appropriate graphic for the council to use.

Paul Leinster, the SNP councillor for Langside, said: “I wonder what Labour’s reaction would be if Glasgow City Council put out a graphic like this with the ‘Vote’ in yellow.”

The post was deleted shortly after questions were raised about its appropriateness.

A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “This is one of a series of messages, using a wide variety of images and colours, including yellow, that is being used to inform people about the voting process.

"This one was deleted when a complaint was received. This was an entirely precautionary measure taken in order to reassure the complainer.”

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