East Dunbartonshire Lib Dems celebrate election success

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 5th May 2003

Local Liberal Democrats have been celebrating following the recent election results, which saw the Lib Dem vote jump by over 4% in Strathkelvin & Bearsden, and 12 Liberal Democrat Councillors elected in East Dunbartonshire.

Jo Swinson, the candidate for Strathkelvin & Bearsden, commented:

"Local people have rejected Labour in East Dunbartonshire, and more and more people are supporting the Liberal Democrats instead. I'd like to thank everyone for the warm reception I received on doorsteps across the constituency, and reassure you that I'll be continuing to work hard for local people on the issues that matter."

Rod Ackland, who stood for the Lib Dems in Clydebank & Milngavie, said:

"Thank you to everyone who voted Liberal Democrat. This is the third time we have beaten the Conservatives here - it is clear that people in Milngavie now see the Liberal Democrats, not the Conservatives, as the opposition to Labour."

LIB DEM GAINS FROM LABOUR

Liberal Democrats scored two key victories over Labour in the Kenmure & Baldernock and Lenzie wards, where local people ousted their Labour Councillors in favour of well-known Liberal Democrats Margaret McNaughton and Gordon Macdonald.

TORY TROUBLES

The Conservatives continued their downward trend, finishing fourth and fifth in the two Parliamentary seats. They failed to gain any seats on the Council - with just three Councillors in the whole of East Dunbartonshire they are looking increasingly irrelevant. The SNP were unable to secure enough votes to win even a single Council seat.