It's May 15th and just as people could have said it was safe to stop mentioning the council elections in Scotland with their back and forth drama from the fallout of the past few weeks, there could be change in the Langside ward of Glasgow city council. The ward had returned a councillor from Labour, the SNP and the Green Party on May 4th at the original count, but the discovery last week of an uncounted ballot box has prompted a recount set for later today.
Both Labour's Archie Graham (Husband of labour leader Johann Lamont) and newly elected SNP councilor Susan Aiken are safe in the recount under the STV system, having won their seats on first preference votes. The real battle comes to the Green Candidate Liam Hainey, only being elected by a few hundred more votes than the 2nd SNP candidate risks the possibility of losing his seat before even being able to set in.
Tweeting about the situation last week the SNP councillor in the ward Susan Aiken had this to say:
"My heart goes out to Langside colleague Liam Hainey. Regardless of
whether this mess affects final result, it's horrible situation for him."
Both returning officers and Glasgow city council are rejecting some calls for an entire recount for the city stating that is was an "Unfortunate one off that would be sorted by the wards returning officer" While the situation certainly brings more attention to what has been an election cursed by low turnout, after today there should be few problems and the newly elected council teams can pitch down and get to work. The only question has to be will Langside have 2 SNP councillors tomorrow or keep it's Green?
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