Glasgow First

For the bus company, see First Glasgow.

Glasgow First
FoundedMarch 2012 (2012-03)
Split fromScottish Labour Party
Political positionCentre-left
Glasgow City Council[1]
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Glasgow First was a political party based in Glasgow, Scotland. It was formed in March 2012 after a series of Labour members of Glasgow City Council, said to be a fifth of their number,[2] either resigned or lost the whip.[3] The immediate cause was the deselection of a significant number of incumbent Labour councillors ahead of the 2012 local elections, where the Labour party hoped to put forward new candidates. Among those deselected where Stephen Dornan, Tommy Morrison and Anne Marie Millar.[4]

The timing of the resignations caused issues for the Labour run council, which was simultaneously attempting to pass the Glasgow City budget, which many of the resigning candidates voted against. The budget ultimately passed by 40–38, with Labour having to taxi sick councillors to the vote.[4]

The new party stood twenty candidates in the 2012 Glasgow City Council election[5] with one elected.

However, on 6 February 2015 Cllr Stephen Dornan joined the Scottish National Party leaving the party without representation on Glasgow City Council.[6] Party leader Tommy Morrison later rejoined the Labour party in August 2015.[7]

The party was deregistered by the Electoral Commission in November 2015.[8]

  1. ^ "Ninth Glasgow Labour councillor resigns | Glasgow and West | STV News". Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  2. ^ Many ex-Labour stand against party[dead link] Press Association
  3. ^ Brace, Harriet. "It's all happening at the Chambers". Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b "More councillors resign from Glasgow City Labour group". BBC News. 10 February 2012.
  5. ^ The battle for Glasgow: Two left feet The Economist
  6. ^ "Ex-Labour councillor Stephen Dornan joins SNP". BBC News. 6 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Splits as 'deadwood rebel' who formed rival party readmitted to Labour". The Herald. 5 August 2015.
  8. ^ "View registration - the Electoral Commission".