1997 Paisley South by-election

1997 Paisley South by-election
6 November 1997
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Douglas Alexander Ian Blackford
Party Labour SNP
Popular vote 10,346 7,615
Percentage 44.1% 32.5%
Swing Decrease13.4% Increase9.1%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Eileen McCartin Sheila Laidlaw
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Popular vote 2,582 1,643
Percentage 11.0% 7.0%
Swing Increase1.6% Decrease1.6%
MP before election

Gordon McMaster
Labour

 Elected MP

Douglas Alexander
Labour

A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Paisley South was held on 6 November 1997 following the death of incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Gordon McMaster of the Labour Party. It was won by Douglas Alexander, who retained the seat for Labour despite a swing of 11% to the Scottish National Party.

Background

Gordon McMaster, the incumbent MP for the constituency, committed suicide in the garage of his home in Johnstone on 28 July 1997, at the age of 37.[1] He had been robbed in London shortly before his death. His suicide note named neighbouring MP Tommy Graham as being responsible for smearing him over an alleged homosexual relationship with Graham's employee, 17-year-old Scott Anderson. As the legal age of consent was 18 at that time, McMaster would have been accused of statutory rape. Graham denied being behind the leak, however was subsequently expelled from the Labour Party.[2]

Result

1997 Paisley South by-election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Douglas Alexander 10,346 44.1 −13.4
SNP Ian Blackford 7,615 32.5 +9.1
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin 2,582 11.0 +1.6
Conservative Sheila Laidlaw 1,643 7.0 −1.6
ProLife Alliance John Deighan 578 2.5 New
Scottish Socialist Frances Curran 306 1.3 +0.9
Independent C. McLauchlan 155 0.7 New
Socialist Labour Christopher Herriot 153 0.7 New
Natural Law Kenneth Blair 57 0.2 New
Majority 2,731 11.7 −22.4
Turnout 23,435 42.9 −26.2
Labour hold Swing -11.3

1997 general election result

General Election 1997: Paisley South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gordon McMaster 21,482 57.5 +6.8
SNP William Martin 8,732 23.4 −0.7
Liberal Democrats Eileen McCartin 3,500 9.4 +0.3
Conservative Robin Reid 3,237 8.6 −7.3
Referendum James Lardner 254 0.7 New
Scottish Socialist Sean Clerkin 146 0.4 New
Majority 12,750 34.1 +7.5
Turnout 37,351 69.1 −5.9
Labour hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BBC News Politics Labour defends Paisley South amid allegations of 'sleaze'". news.bbc.co.uk. 27 October 1997. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Gordon McMaster was not my enemy, says suspended MP, Euan McColm and Peter Macmahon". The Scotsman. 18 September 1997.
  3. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1997-2002 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Retrieved 5 October 2015.


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