 | 'In Downing Street, Gordon Brown will be waking to the aftershocks of the "political earthquake" in his own back yard. With the size of the swing to the SNP in Glasgow East, many other Labour MPs will think their seats are no longer safe.' Brian Ponsonby , Glasgow and West reporter in BBC News, 25 th July 2008. |  |
The SNP has pulled off a stunning by-election victory by winning Glasgow East, one of Labour's safest seats.
The Nationalists overturned a Labour majority of 13,507 to win by only 365 votes.
The SNP polled 11,277 votes in the contest, while the Tories came third with 1,639 and the Lib Dems, with 915 votes, came fourth.
Voter turnout was 42.25%, only slightly down on the 48% figure at the last election, with 26,219 votes cast.
The result was declared in the early hours of Friday following a delay, after a re-count was requested by Labour, which won 10,912 votes in the contest.
SNP candidate John Mason said the victory had sent a message to Downing Street, while Labour described the result as "disappointing".
'Epic win'
"Three weeks ago the SNP predicted a political earthquake," he said.
"This SNP victory is not just a political earthquake, it is off the Richter scale.
"It is an epic win and the tremors will be felt all the way to Westminster."
Labour minister Douglas Alexander said the result was "very disappointing" and admitted it had been a "notable victory" for the SNP.
Nine candidates stood in the seat, in a contest sparked by the resignation of Labour's David Marshall on health grounds.
Scotland's Deputy First Minister and deputy SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, said the swing towards the Nationalists had been of "epic proportions".
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