Glasgow Anniesland By-elections 2000

'On a swing of this order, the SNP would be winning some two dozen first past the post seats from Labour in the Scottish Parliament.'
SNP spokesman, 24 th November 2000.

Reaction to Anniesland result

From BBC Scotland 24 th November 2000

Labour is celebrating its win in the two by-elections caused by the death in October of Scotland's First Minister Donald Dewar.

Scotland Office minister Brian Wilson said: "These splendid results show strong support for the Labour Government.

"The results are a disaster for the nationalists, who used to thrive on by-elections and grievance.

"Now they have failed nine times in a row to take a Labour seat in a by-election in Scotland."

But an SNP spokesman said: "Once again we have seen a significant shift in support away from London Labour towards Scotland's party, the SNP.

"But on a swing of this order, the SNP would be winning some two dozen first past the post seats from Labour in the Scottish Parliament."

Among the happiest politicians on the night was Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan, whose candidate in the Edinburgh election beat the Lib Dems into fifth place.

Mr Sheridan, who became an MSP in May 19999, declared: "We're the new kids on the block. We're here to stay."

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