Glasgow East victor take seat at Westminster

SNP by-election winner, John Mason MP, has taken his seat in the House of Commons on the first day back after summer recess. John sensationally won the Glasgow East by-election on 24 July 2008, overturning a Labour majority of 13,507 to win his seat with a swing of 22.54%.

Speaking in advance of his swearing in, Mr Mason said:

"The people of Glasgow East elected me to send a message to Gordon Brown, and now I am here to deliver it.

"That message is clear and simple. It’s time for action – action to help hard-pressed households who are struggling to make ends meet with the soaring cost of food and fuel.

"During the by-election, SNP pressure forced a U-turn on the 2p rise in road fuel duty. People are struggling to make ends meet, and SNP success in Glenrothes will force more action over soaring household bills.

"The shame of fuel poverty in a land of energy plenty transcended the campaign in Glasgow East, just as it is now the defining issue on doorsteps in Glenrothes.

"The swing that elected me, in what was Labour’s third safest seat, shows Labour’s days of taking Scotland for granted are over. It is clear that people have had enough of Labour’s broken promises, and want a change for the better.

"People in Scotland know that it is the SNP who have delivered real benefits for them and their family and are helping them out in the hard times by freezing the council tax, investing in more police and reducing business rates and prescription charges.

"Now people want the same positive action from Westminster, and that is the message the SNP is taking to Gordon Brown."