Scottish Labour wins two by-elections as SNP slumps to 18 defeats in row

Scottish Labour has emerged victorious in two council by-elections as the SNP continues to struggle, facing its 18th consecutive defeat. Anas Sarwar’s party secured wins in Fife and West Dunbartonshire, with both seats previously held by Labour councillors who became Members of Parliament in the general election. The recent successes add to Labour’s three by-election wins in Glasgow just last week. A Labour insider remarked on the SNP’s losing streak, suggesting that the SNP’s attempts to navigate challenges may be ineffective in the face of significant setbacks.

The West Fife and Coastal Villages election was tightly contested, with Labour candidate Karen Beaton narrowly clinching victory with 881 votes, just ahead of the SNP’s Paul Steele on 879 votes. This by-election arose after sitting councillor Graeme Downie was elected MP for Dunfermline and Dollar earlier in the year. In the Kilpatrick by-election in West Dunbartonshire, William Rooney secured a more comfortable win for Labour with 814 votes, compared to the SNP’s 564 votes after the sixth round of counting. The Reform UK party came in third with 200 votes. The previous councillor, Douglas McAllister, resigned after winning the West Dunbartonshire constituency in the general election.

Despite the SNP’s success in two Dundee City Council by-elections at the beginning of October, the party has since faced a series of losses. This downward trend follows a significant reduction in seats for the SNP during the July general election, where only nine MPs were returned. Scottish politics continues to be dynamic and evolving, with party dynamics and electoral outcomes shaping the landscape in unforeseen ways.

This recent success for Scottish Labour underscores the party’s resilience and growing support in key areas. The SNP’s ongoing challenges highlight the complexities of maintaining political momentum and public confidence. As the political landscape in Scotland continues to shift, these by-election results serve as a reminder of the fluidity and unpredictability of electoral outcomes.