The SNP is poised to take control of Dundee Council after victory in a local by- election yesterday.
The SNP is poised to take control of Dundee Council after victory in a local by- election yesterday.
The win from Labour in the Maryfield ward takes the SNP group total to 14, the same as the current number of Labour, LibDem and Conservative councillors who have formed the administration until now.
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: "This is a fantastic result for Craig Melville and the SNP, gaining the seat with a swing from Labour even on the high-water result of May 2007.
"It is a watershed for politics in Dundee.
"Seven days after Gordon Brown came to Dundee and claimed the city was in a great state', Labour is losing control of the city in this crucial by-election, and Liberal and Tory support are both down to embarrassing levels."
The SNP took 48% of the first preference vote to Labour's 31%, with the LibDems on 11% and Tories on 7%. Labour now has nine councillors, the Conservatives three and the LibDems two.
Counting in Thursday's election started at 2pm because of a former councillor's funeral yesterday morning.
A Labour spokesman said: "We are pleased that Labour increased our share of the vote in what the SNP were convinced was a very safe council seat for them.
"More and more people are joining us in rejecting the SNP broken promises and their failure to do enough to help Scots through this difficult time."
RESULTS: Dundee City - Maryfield: First count SNP 1550, Lab 1013, LibDem 354, C 224, Scottish Socialist Party 52, Ind 35, Ind 28.
(May 2007 - First count SNP 1247, Lab 1172, SNP 941, LibDem 644, C 410, Lab 339, SSP 96, Solidarity 83. Elected SNP 2, Lab 1).
SNP gain from Lab Swing 1.3% Lab to SNP.
