MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Labour by-election victory gives PM Brown breathing space

Willie Bain won the seat made vacant by Commons Speaker Michael Martin

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has survived his latest by-election test as Labour comfortably cruised to victory in the Glasgow North East by-election. The party's Willie Bain won the seat made vacant by the resignation of former Commons Speaker Michael Martin with a majority of 8,111 over the SNP.

Despite widespread predictions that the far-right British National Party would do well, it failed to achieve either of its goals of beating the Tories to third place and saving its deposit.

Mr Bain won 12,231 votes, ahead of the SNP's David Kerr who was backed by 4,120 voters. The Conservatives came third with 1,075 votes, followed by the BNP with 1,013. Turnout was just 33%.

In his victory speech, Mr Bain declared: “This is a great day for Labour. This is a resounding victory for Gordon Brown and Labour. This by-election has been about many things but most of all it has been about jobs and the economy”.

”People have had their say. They have backed Gordon Brown in his efforts to secure our economic recovery; they have sent a resounding 'No' to (SNP leader) Alex Salmond and his treatment of our great city, and a resounding 'No' to David Cameron.“

The BNP Charlie Baillie was booed and heckled when his turn came to speak following the announcement of the result. But above the din, he insisted his party had shown it was a credible alternative.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy told GMTV: ”It was a dramatic victory for Labour. The scale of the gap between ourselves and the SNP, and then far behind the Tories coming in third, was more than any of the commentators expected. By any account it was a fantastic night for Labour. No-one foresaw a majority of this scale”.