SNP celebrate victories over Labour-dominated South Lanarkahire

May 6 2011

THE SNP last night achieved a dramatic hat trick of victories in Labour South Lanarkshire.

Tom McCabe lost the newly-created Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse seat to Nationalists' challenger Christina McKelvie, and in Clydesdale Aileen Campbell ended Karon Gillon's 12-year tenure as the area's MSP.

Labour's James Kelly narrowly held on to the Rutherglen seat that includes Blantyre but Andy Kerr, the party's representative in East Kilbride, fell victim to Linda Fabiani and Nationalist tide that swept across South Lanarkshire.

For the Nationalists, it was their best night in the area since Winnie Ewing sensational victory in the 1967 Hamilton by-election. Yesterday, she welcomed Christina's McKelvie's victory, arising from an11 per cent to the SNP.

Dr Ewing said: "This is a wonderful result - I am delighted and moved beyond words.  Our success in 1967 help move Scotland forward in these times, and I believe that Christina's success ushers in a new era of hope, ambition and progress for our nation."

In the newly-creeated Uddingston and Bellshill constituency, Labour's Michael McMahon held off a strong challenge from veteran SNP councillor Richard Lyle. Mr McMahon polled 11,531 votes told win by 714 votes in an area long considered a Labour stronghold.

Mr McMahon entered Holyrood in 1999 and held the Hamilton North and Bellshill seat by 7905 votes in 2003. His majority was cut to 4865 four year later before the constituency was swept away by boundary changes.

North Lanarkshire councillor John Pentland succeeded Jack McConnell as MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw but only just. He edged out the SNP's Clare Adamson by 587 votes compared with a majority for Mr McMcConnell of 5938 in 2007.