Glasgow East
Congratulations to John Mason after his stunning win yesterday in the Glasgow East by-election.
The SNP candidate had a mountain to climb, but managed to overturn a truly massive Labour majority on his way across the finishing line.
The big issue in the campaign was the cost of living - inflation, fuel and food prices - the same things that concern most people right across the country.
But the underlying problem for Labour is that they've lost the trust of key groups of voters - who should otherwise be natural supporters.
Instead of: "Say What We Mean and Mean What We Say" - the Labour establishment has grown fond of saying one thing then doing another.
Equal pay is a perfect example.
Labour councils are quick to vouch their unswerving commitment to equal opportunities and equal pay - as are the Labour supporting unions with whom these councils have 'strong' local links.
Yet, for many years, they both presided over pay systems that blatantly discriminated against thousands of female employees - and it's these chickens that are now coming home to roost.
The Labour and trade union establishment - whose writ ran over so much of Scotland for so long - is now coming under intense scrutiny. That can only be a good thing for most ordinary union members - because they're not completely thiralled to the Labour Party.
And that's why, in Glasgow, equal pay will continue to be a big issue - until we get a fair and comprehensive settlement of all the outstanding cases.
The SNP candidate had a mountain to climb, but managed to overturn a truly massive Labour majority on his way across the finishing line.
The big issue in the campaign was the cost of living - inflation, fuel and food prices - the same things that concern most people right across the country.
But the underlying problem for Labour is that they've lost the trust of key groups of voters - who should otherwise be natural supporters.
Instead of: "Say What We Mean and Mean What We Say" - the Labour establishment has grown fond of saying one thing then doing another.
Equal pay is a perfect example.
Labour councils are quick to vouch their unswerving commitment to equal opportunities and equal pay - as are the Labour supporting unions with whom these councils have 'strong' local links.
Yet, for many years, they both presided over pay systems that blatantly discriminated against thousands of female employees - and it's these chickens that are now coming home to roost.
The Labour and trade union establishment - whose writ ran over so much of Scotland for so long - is now coming under intense scrutiny. That can only be a good thing for most ordinary union members - because they're not completely thiralled to the Labour Party.
And that's why, in Glasgow, equal pay will continue to be a big issue - until we get a fair and comprehensive settlement of all the outstanding cases.
