Glasgow North East by-election: BNP man finds his big talk contradicted by tiny vote

The BNP's candidate in the Glasgow North East by-election, Charlie Baillie, was facing derision last night, after it emerged he had predicted the party's "best-ever result" an hour before he lost his deposit.

Mr Baillie, an electrical contractor from the south side of the city, told reporters just before 1am yesterday that the far-right party was about to make history. I am predicting that this evening we will produce the best result ever for the BNP in Scotland," he said. "I confidently predict we shall easily save our deposit and possibly more. Tonight will be the best result ever for the BNP in Scotland."

But at 2am, when the result was announced, Baillie's party was declared to have been beaten into fourth place by the Conservatives, securing only 4.92 per cent of the vote. Parties need 5 per cent to keep their deposits.

The BNP has failed to keep its deposit in any election in Scotland. Its tally of 1,013 votes was only 93 more than it won in the 2005 general election, despite the huge publicity generated for the party by the appearance on the BBC's Question Time programme of the party chairman, Nick Griffin.

The candidates of all the other parties staged a silent protest when Mr Baillie made his post-result speech on Thursday night, all walking off the stage as he began to speak. This meant that neither the Conservative nor Liberal Democrat candidate took up their opportunity to speak.

Amid heated exchanges afterwards, one BNP supporter was heard to shout at a black man watching the count: "Away hame. You'll never be British."

Scotsman

Tories' lesbian candidate just beats BNP in race for third place in Glasgow North East by-election

Ruth Davidson, the Conservatives' lesbian candidate in the Glasgow North-East by-election has just beaten British National Party's (BNP) Charlie Baillie in the race for third place. The Labour candidate Willie Bain comfortably won the seat that was previously held by former Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin.

The seat became vacant five months ago when the then Speaker, now Lord Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn resigned over his handling of MP's expenses.

The results were as follows:-

1) Willie Bain, (Labour) 12,231 votes
2) David Kerr (SNP) 4,120
3) Ruth Davidson (Conservative Party) 1,075
4) Charlie Baillie (BNP) 1.013
5) Tommy Sheridan (Solidarity) 794
6) Eileen Baxendale (LD) 474
7) David Doherty (Green) 332
8) John Smeaton (Jury Team) 258

There were five other candidates (full result below).

The BNP have never fought a by-election in Scotland before and some commentators credit their relative success at this election to the appearance on the BBC's Question Time by leader Nick Griffin. During the count, the BBC were reporting that the BNP had secured third place.

Willie Bain hailed the result, saying: "It's a great endorsement for Gordon Brown in his efforts to set the economy back on track and it shows the General Election is very much game on."

Later he said: "I want to thank my neighbours, now my constituents. You have placed your trust in me, I promise you that I will never let you down."

Conservative candidate, Ms Davidson just held her deposit for the election securing 5.22% of the vote. She lives with her partner in Partick and had promised that if elected she would not claim for food, furniture or household goods.

Ms Davidson said she does not often speak about her sexuality because "it's not the most interesting part of my life".

According to the Sun, she said: "I don't believe sexuality is an issue now. In terms of the Conservative Party, we saw in July of this year David Cameron standing up in front of Stonewall and saying, 'Look, we apologise for Section 28. We got it wrong'.

"It was an unequivocal apology on the subject.

"In terms of coming out I had my first female partner about four or five years ago. I was open about it at the time and I'm open about it now. But I don't tend to talk about it because it's not the most interesting part of my life, you know? Some people are gay and that's it."

Local police are investigating two alleged cases of voting fraud after the same voters turned up to vote on multiple occasions.

Pink News

By-election SP:

Lab 12231 (59.3%)
SNP 4120 (19.96%)
Con 1075 (5.2%)
---lost deps----
BNP 1013 (4.9%)
Sol 794 (3.8%)
LDM 474 (2.3%)
Grn 332 (1.6%)
JTm 256 (1.3%)
SSP 152 (0.7%)
Hug 54 (0.3%)
SLP 47 (0.2%)
Ind 32 (0.2%)
ILT 13 (0.2%)

Turnout 33.02%

43 spoiled ballots.
20,638 valid votes.

Lab majority 8,111
Con saved deposit by 43 votes

Glasgow North East heads to the polls

Voters in Glasgow North East are heading to the polls today for a by-election triggered by former speaker Michael Martin's resignation in the wake of the MPs expenses scandal.

Political analysts have placed significant importance on the vote due to Labour's precarious standing in the polls and the fact the by-election will probably be the last before next year's general election.

Labour candidate Willie Bain received support from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson this week, while members of the Cabinet have also visited the region during the last few days in an attempt to drum up support. Chancellor Alistair Darling and home secretary Alan Johnson both made the trip to Glasgow this week, while Gordon Brown visited last week. Scottish national party (SNP) candidate David Kerr has also welcomed party leader Alex Salmond to the region.

Thirteen candidates are standing in today's election, including Charlie Baillie from the British National party and former MSP Tommy Sheridan. Other 'celebrity' figures are also standing for election, including John Smeaton the baggage handler who became known around the world after confronting one of the Glasgow airport bombers, and Big Brother runner-up Mikey Hughes.

Labour heads into the election with a majority of some 10,000 votes from the 2005 general election. Lord Martin was effectively forced out as Speaker following the Daily Telegraph's explosive exposure of the lavish expenses claims made by some MPs earlier this year.

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