Glasgow North-East by-election: Labour insist they've learned lessons

Oct 19 2009

LABOUR leaders claimed today they have learned the lessons of last year's spectacular defeat in the Glasgow East by-election.

The claim came as the party launched its campaign for the Glasgow North East by-election, the neighbouring seat to Glasgow East, which fell to the Nationalists last year.

Later last year Labour fought off an SNP challenge in the Glenrothes by-election.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said at today's campaign launch: "After Glasgow East, we know how to lose a by-election.

"After Glenrothes, we know how to win and we are going to do our very best by the folk in this community."

Today's official launch by Labour - both they and the SNP have been campaigning unofficially for months - was a low-key and low-tech affair, with a location chosen to emphasise the local credentials of candidate Willie Bain.

Mr Bain, 36, a law lecturer, emerged from the 14-storey tower block where he grew up and where he still stays with his parents when not working three days a week in London.

A sheet with the slogan "Good Luck Willie" was draped over one of the balconies, and Mr Bain gave a short speech to about 30 placard and balloon-waving supporters in the street outside before hitting the campaign trail.

He launched an "action plan" for the constituency, ranging from more money for the city from the Scottish Government to automatic jail sentences for people caught carrying knives.

Mr Bain said: "I've lived here on the Carron estate all my life and I don't want to represent anywhere else but Glasgow North East.

"Unlike some, I'm not a career politician.

"I will be a local voice for local people."

He faced media questions, particularly about his call for mandatory sentences for anyone carrying a knife.

Asked about the effect of this policy on prison places, he said: "My colleagues at Holyrood have made a commitment that if that requires extra prison places, that will be funded.

"But the real value of this policy will be that anybody knows if they carry a knife they go to jail.

"At the moment it's a bit of a lottery, so it will have a strong deterrent value."