Labour folk knocking on doors in Glasgow’s southside have a definite spring in their step. Unmissable in bright red jackets, they appear pleasantly surprised that once-loyal SNP voters are giving them a hearing. One veteran Labour activist tells i that the response is “night and day” from recent elections, which often saw doors slammed in their face and rude words hurled in their direction.
“People are shaking my hand again.” Glasgow was dependable Labour territory, once upon a time. The city of the “Red Clydeside” revolution – which sparked early 20th century union activism – could be relied upon to send Labour MPs off to London at every election.
But a different kind of revolution took place during 2014. Glasgow became the beating heart of the “Yes” movement during the Scottish independence referendum. A majority of Glaswegians backed separation from the UK.
In 2015, the shift from deep red to deep yellow was complete when the SNP took all seven Westminster seats in Glasgow, a result it replicated again in 2019. Yet another big change is in the wind this summer. The latest Ipsos Mori “mega-poll” forecasts that the SNP will lose all six Glasgow seats up for grabs to Labour when voters go to the polls on 4 July.
Glasgow South, a mix of leafy, well-to-do suburbs and high-rise housing estates, represents the SNP’s biggest majority in the city. Stewart McDonald won here last time by over 9,000 votes. He has a fight on his hands this time from Gordon M.
