Stuart Fairweather assesses the significance of recent council by-election results - and asks whether Reform UK could re-form Scottish politics ...
The smiles on the faces of the three new Glasgow Councillors were understandable as the results came in for the recent local government by-elections.
Arguably the outcomes of these polls are of limited value when trying to assess Scotland's political trajectory. Our country is not uniform. There are however a few things worth noting.
The number of new councillors being elected is high at the moment, largely because of pervious incumbents moving onto Westminster. Unlike Stephen Flynn, the outgoing post-holder wisely felt that they could not do two jobs at once. As a result electors are asked to choose between politicians they feel increasingly distant from believe they will do little or nothing to address the cost of living crisis and other dangers facing us.
Maryhill, North East Glasgow and Drumchapel and Anniesland were amongst the latest local wards to provide results. All had low turnouts. The North East was won with only 630 first preferences being given to Labour’s Mary McNab. This is from an electorate of over 15,000.
We wish the three new Glasgow Councillors well but the two child benefit cap, the winter fuel cuts and the impact of national insurance rises are not making it easy for Labour on the door step. As Ballot Box Scotland, and others, have indicated the SNP and the Tories are not doing well too.
The picture varies by degree across Scotland but with distain for a failing mainstream who will benefit from a growing trend towards disengagement.
One response, sadly, appears to be Reform UK: coming from nowhere there is a danger they can become Glasgow's third party. Two councillors have recently defected to them in Aberdeenshire. Next Saturday, November 30th, will see them meet in Perth. An opposition rally will hear Mike Arnott speak about our history of standing up to the far right. On the same day there will be demonstrations against racism in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
As yet Reform have little Scottish organisation but we cannot let their thus far haphazard approach give us too much reassurance.
As the weather worsens and fuel prices again rise people’s belief in the prospects of something better diminishes. December’s Scottish budget will be a challenge. At a local level we are seeing services threatened and cut. The left urgently needs to work together to provide tangible alternatives people can trust.
Published 24 November 2024