SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY VICTORY IN MILTON BY-ELECTION

Motion Text

That this House congratulates Councillor Billy McAllister on his election as the Scottish National Party's latest elected representative following his significant victory in the local authority by-election in Milton for the City of Glasgow Council; notes that this victory was gained by a swing from Labour and Liberal Democrat voters which saw the SNP vote increase by over 17 per cent.; recognises that the seat was won against a strong campaign by the Labour Party who had previously represented the area for decades; welcomes this victory as another example of how the SNP has won the majority of local by-elections held since the 2005 election with six gains out of 12 contests; further welcomes the fact that in all the 12 by-elections the SNP is far ahead of the other parties in terms of the popular vote; and views this victory as an enduring signal that the choice for Scottish voters in the 2007 elections will be a straight one between an SNP Executive with a vision of taking Scotland forward, or the failing Labour-Lib Dem Executive holding Scotland back on behalf of London.