02/05/2003

Labour return to power in Scotland

Labour have been returned to power in the Scottish elections, albeit with only 50 seats, six less than in the last election, and the inevitable prospect of a continuing coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat party leaders, Jack McConnell and Jim Wallace, are expected to begin discussion on the format of the coalition almost immediately.

The position of the Liberal Democrats remains unchanged on 26 seats, while the Scottish National Party, who had been widely expected to make large gains, lost 10 MSPs, falling to 24.

Smaller parties fared well overnight, with the Scottish Green Party up from one to six MSPS and the Scottish Socialists up from one to five.

The biggest shock came when Dr Jean Turner, a hospital campaigner from Glasgow, defeated Labour's Brian Fitzpatrick in Strathkelvin and Bearsden, sending her to the Scottish Parliament to fight the closure of Stobhill Hospital.

(GB)

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