The Glasgow East By-election 2008

'In May 2005, in the general elections, Labour won with a margin of 13,500 votes. This time, they not only lost, albeit by a narrow margin, but in percentage terms they literally crumbled. Their candidate Margaret Curran was beaten by John Mason of the SNP, the Scottish National Party. It was only by 365 votes, nevertheless Mason got a total of 11,277 votes, which compared to three years ago amounts to an increase of a good 26 percent, while his opponent only got 10,912 votes, which is 19% less.' AGI News (Italy), 25 th July 2008.

Labour lose by-election in Scotland

From AGI News (Italy), 25 th July 2008

There has been another setback for the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and for the Labour Party in the by-elections in Scotland yesterday, from where the prime minister originates. Labour lost precisely the seat which belonged to its MP David Marshall, who was forced to retire for health reasons.

This seat is in one of Labour's most traditional strongholds, the constituency of Glasgow East, considered until now the 25th safest constituency in the whole country for the party that controls the government.

In May 2005, in the general elections, Labour won with a margin of 13,500 votes. This time, they not only lost, albeit by a narrow margin, but in percentage terms they literally crumbled.

Their candidate Margaret Curran was beaten by John Mason of the SNP, the Scottish National Party. It was only by 365 votes, nevertheless Mason got a total of 11,277 votes, which compared to three years ago amounts to an increase of a good 26 percent, while his opponent only got 10,912 votes, which is 19% less.

Ê The recount of the ballot papers demanded by the loser was in vain. Turnout was down, around 42 percent of the voters against 48 percent last time.

It was a real humiliation for Brown, who apart from anything else was born and raised in Govan, a town adjacent to the United Kingdom's third most important city and who has his electoral base there.

According to estimates by the press agency 'Press Association of Britain', if there were to be a general election now, it would likely have a similar 22.54% rejection as recorded yesterday. The prime minister in that case would in fact lose his own seat and his party would see a memorable failure.