Tory candidate 'shocked' at victory in Glasgow's east end

The Scottish Conservatives' first councillor in Shettleston said he was "shocked" to win in the east end of Glasgow, a former Labour stronghold.

Thomas Kerr
Published 5th May 2017

The Scottish Conservatives' first councillor in Shettleston said he was "shocked" to win in the east end of Glasgow, a former Labour stronghold.

Thomas Kerr, 20, put his win down to opposition to another Scottish independence referendum.

He said: "I'm shocked as well, when you stand as a candidate for the Conservatives in the east end of Glasgow you don't expect something like this to happen, but I think people recognised I'm a local voice and will stand up for local issues.

"They wanted to send a message to Nicola Sturgeon that they don't want a second referendum.

"Most people that I spoke to are former Labour voters but I also spoke to people who have voted SNP but are fed up and want a Government that will get on with the day job rather than focusing on independence."

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson tweeted after his victory: "Delighted for @Thomas_Kerr1 - first met him at his school in 2012 where we did a hustings together ahead of indyref2 - a great campaigner."