Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom
's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East
. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin
as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons
following the MPs' expenses scandal. Martin was the first Speaker since Sir John Trevor
in 1695 to be forced from office. Willie Bain
, the Scottish Labour Party
candidate, won with 59% of the vote. Just 33% of the electorate voted, which is the lowest ever percentage turnout in a Scottish by-election to the House of Commons.
There was a longer than normal gap between a seat falling vacant and the by-election. On 22 July, during a brief debate in the House of Commons, the British Government refused to move the writ before the summer recess.
It is a convention (not always observed in practice) that mainstream political parties do not contest elections against sitting Speakers of the House of Commons. As such, Michael Martin won Glasgow North East without his former Labour Party label, and neither the Conservative nor Liberal Democrat parties had fought the constituency (or its predecessor, Glasgow Springburn
) in either 2001 or 2005.
This was the last by-election of the 2005–2010 parliament.
, a law lecturer and Constituency Labour Party secretary, as their candidate. Michael Martin's son Paul Martin
, the MSP for the roughly equivalent Glasgow Springburn Scottish Parliament constituency
, had ruled himself out.
The Scottish National Party
(SNP) selected David Kerr. They had previously selected James Dornan, their leader on Glasgow City Council, but on the 12 July he announced that he was withdrawing as a candidate following allegations in the Sunday Herald
over past financial difficulties.
The Conservative Party
selected Ruth Davidson, a journalist and broadcaster, as well as a Territorial Army volunteer and Sunday school teacher.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats
selected the South Lanarkshire
councillor Eileen Baxendale as their candidate.
The Scottish Socialist Party
decided to stand Kevin McVey, a party organiser from Cumbernauld
. On the ballot paper the party opted to use the description "Scottish Socialist Party – Make Greed History"
Solidarity
called on the SSP
, the Socialist Labour Party
and themselves to adopt a "left unity" candidate. However, they later announced that they had selected Tommy Sheridan
to fight the by-election, but he might have stood down in favour of a left unity candidate. On the ballot paper the party used the full description "Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement"
Former Big Brother housemate Mikey Hughes stood as an independent candidate.
The British National Party
(BNP) selected Charlie Baillie as their candidate who stood as second candidate on the list for Scotland
in the 2009 European Election
.
The Jury Team, an umbrella organisation aiming to support Independent
candidates in UK elections, selected John Smeaton
, the former Glasgow Airport baggage handler who became known for his intervention during the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
as its first candidate for a Westminster election. On declaration of his candidacy in September, he was given the third shortest odds to win the seat.
David Doherty, an environmental protection graduate of the University of Strathclyde
, was the Scottish Green Party
candidate.
The Socialist Labour Party stood Louise McDaid, who topped their party list for Scotland
in the 2009 European Election
.
Mev Brown stood as an independent candidate. Colin Campbell stood for The Individuals Labour and Tory (TILT).
Official candidate names and ballot paper descriptions were confirmed by Glasgow City Council on 28 October 2009
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East
Glasgow North East (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow North East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It was first contested at the 2005 general election...
. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin
Michael Martin (politician)
Michael John Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn, PC is a British politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Glasgow Springburn from 1979 to 2005, and then for Glasgow North East until 2009...
as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
following the MPs' expenses scandal. Martin was the first Speaker since Sir John Trevor
John Trevor (speaker)
Sir John Trevor was a Welsh lawyer and politician. He was Speaker of the English House of Commons from 1685 to 1687 and from 1689 to 1695. Trevor also served as Master of the Rolls from 1685 to 1689 and from 1693 to 1717...
in 1695 to be forced from office. Willie Bain
Willie Bain
William Thomas Bain is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow North East since 2009....
, the Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
candidate, won with 59% of the vote. Just 33% of the electorate voted, which is the lowest ever percentage turnout in a Scottish by-election to the House of Commons.
There was a longer than normal gap between a seat falling vacant and the by-election. On 22 July, during a brief debate in the House of Commons, the British Government refused to move the writ before the summer recess.
It is a convention (not always observed in practice) that mainstream political parties do not contest elections against sitting Speakers of the House of Commons. As such, Michael Martin won Glasgow North East without his former Labour Party label, and neither the Conservative nor Liberal Democrat parties had fought the constituency (or its predecessor, Glasgow Springburn
Glasgow Springburn (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Springburn was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until the 2005 general election, when it was largely replaced by the Glasgow North East constituency....
) in either 2001 or 2005.
This was the last by-election of the 2005–2010 parliament.
Candidates
Labour selected Willie BainWillie Bain
William Thomas Bain is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow North East since 2009....
, a law lecturer and Constituency Labour Party secretary, as their candidate. Michael Martin's son Paul Martin
Paul Martin (Scottish politician)
Paul Martin is a Scottish Labour politician, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow Provan constituency since May 2011, having formerly been MSP for Glasgow Springburn from the beginning of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 until the constituency was abolished for the 2011...
, the MSP for the roughly equivalent Glasgow Springburn Scottish Parliament constituency
Glasgow Springburn (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Springburn was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election....
, had ruled himself out.
The Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) selected David Kerr. They had previously selected James Dornan, their leader on Glasgow City Council, but on the 12 July he announced that he was withdrawing as a candidate following allegations in the Sunday Herald
Sunday Herald
The Sunday Herald is a Scottish Sunday newspaper launched on 7 February 1999. The ABC audited circulation in April 2011 showed sales of 31,123.From the start it has combined a centre-left stance with support for Scottish devolution...
over past financial difficulties.
The Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
selected Ruth Davidson, a journalist and broadcaster, as well as a Territorial Army volunteer and Sunday school teacher.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
selected the South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
councillor Eileen Baxendale as their candidate.
The Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
decided to stand Kevin McVey, a party organiser from Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
. On the ballot paper the party opted to use the description "Scottish Socialist Party – Make Greed History"
Solidarity
Solidarity (Scotland)
Solidarity is a political party in Scotland, launched on September 3, 2006 as a breakaway from the Scottish Socialist Party in the aftermath of Tommy Sheridan's libel action...
called on the SSP
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
, the Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (UK)
The Socialist Labour Party is a far left socialist political party in the United Kingdom. The party is led by former trade union leader Arthur Scargill, who established it in 1996 as a breakaway from the Labour Party...
and themselves to adopt a "left unity" candidate. However, they later announced that they had selected Tommy Sheridan
Tommy Sheridan
Tommy Sheridan is a Scottish socialist politician. He has had various prominent roles within the socialist movement in Scotland and is currently one of two co-convenors of the left-wing Scottish political party Solidarity....
to fight the by-election, but he might have stood down in favour of a left unity candidate. On the ballot paper the party used the full description "Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement"
Former Big Brother housemate Mikey Hughes stood as an independent candidate.
The British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
(BNP) selected Charlie Baillie as their candidate who stood as second candidate on the list for Scotland
Scotland (European Parliament constituency)
Scotland constitutes a single constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
in the 2009 European Election
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
.
The Jury Team, an umbrella organisation aiming to support Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidates in UK elections, selected John Smeaton
John Smeaton (baggage handler)
John Smeaton QGM is a Scottish former baggage handler at Glasgow International Airport. He became involved in thwarting the 2007 Glasgow International Airport Attack. Smeaton lives in Erskine, Renfrewshire, a town outside the city and near the airport. Brought up in Erskine, he was educated at...
, the former Glasgow Airport baggage handler who became known for his intervention during the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
The 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack was a terrorist attack which occurred on Saturday 30 June 2007, at 15:11 BST, when a dark green Jeep Cherokee loaded with propane canisters was driven into the glass doors of the Glasgow International Airport terminal and set ablaze...
as its first candidate for a Westminster election. On declaration of his candidacy in September, he was given the third shortest odds to win the seat.
David Doherty, an environmental protection graduate of the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, was the Scottish Green Party
Scottish Green Party
The Scottish Green Party is a green party in Scotland. It has two MSPs in the devolved Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, representing Lothian, and Patrick Harvie, for Glasgow.-Organisation:...
candidate.
The Socialist Labour Party stood Louise McDaid, who topped their party list for Scotland
Scotland (European Parliament constituency)
Scotland constitutes a single constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elects 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
in the 2009 European Election
European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom)
The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after...
.
Mev Brown stood as an independent candidate. Colin Campbell stood for The Individuals Labour and Tory (TILT).
Official candidate names and ballot paper descriptions were confirmed by Glasgow City Council on 28 October 2009