I FEEL like we have been saying it all year but my goodness, we need change in this city – and as we head into four by-elections for council seats in Glasgow, we need to shout it even louder.

This is a turning point for Glasgow – when the council elections took place in 2022, Glasgow was still under the rose-tinted hue of the then first minister Nicola Sturgeon and all of the “hope” that the independence movement offered.

Since then, we have seen arrests, resignations, two new first ministers, an unsavoury breaking up with the Greens at Holyrood and a series of disastrous budgets handing down cuts to local governments – to our beloved city of Glasgow – which has left the floundering administration here scratching their heads.

It’s not really surprising that people want change – Glaswegians want neighbourhoods that are safe, streets that are clean and schools that are well resourced.

Now these by-elections are our chance for us to send a message to the SNP and Green administration – people are not happy. They see the mess they have made of the city, and they want something different. They want change. They know if nothing changes, things will stay the same.  

At the General Election in July, Glaswegians made it clear that they wanted change.

This is why the city unequivocally voted for Labour, securing all six seats in Glasgow.

And Labour have listened. In our Autumn Budget, we delivered for Scotland. This Budget will bring billions of pounds to Scotland – £1.5 billion this year alone – ensuring that our streets are cleaner, our roads are safer and our classrooms have more teachers, as long as the SNP purse-string holders in Holyrood give us the money to spend it properly, in our communities who need and deserve it.

Our Labour champions are standing in this by-election with a clear purpose: to fix the city’s roads, strengthen our schools and to keep Glasgow’s streets clean and vibrant.

Each of our candidates are dedicated to improving our neighbourhoods, and each bring the commitment and dedication needed to bring about change. Since 2017, we have seen what happens when these are ignored.

In Glasgow North East, we have Mary McNab, a real local champion who has worked in the care sector and wants to represent the area she was born and brought up in. In the Springburn/Maryhill ward, we have Marie Garrity who raised her family in this ward and she’s a former Labour councillor who knows how to bring the most for her constituents and will work tirelessly to represent them. And in Anniesland/Drumchapel we have Davena Rankin, a trade union stalwart determined to fight for and represent her local area. They will all be standing for election on November 21.

On December 5, we also have the by-election in Partick East and Kelvindale, where a former Labour councillor will be contesting this ward – James Adams’ political ability and fighting spirit is exactly what our citizens need.

I am delighted to have such a talented group of candidates standing for election for Labour as I know they will advocate endlessly for the change that Glasgow needs.

Our councillors will be accessible, accountable and ready to work with residents at every step. We will ensure that every Glaswegian’s voice is heard.

And as we cast our votes, we remember the freedoms we exercise are hard-won. Given the time of year, it is especially important to honour those who sacrificed everything to protect the rights and liberties we cherish. We will remember them.

If you’re ready for change – if you want a city where the streets are clean, the roads are safe and the schools give every child a chance – then vote for Glasgow Labour’s champions in these upcoming by-elections.

This is our chance to shape a better Glasgow for ourselves, our children and our communities.

Let’s take this opportunity to build a brighter future for Glasgow.

If nothing changes, things will stay the same, so use your vote for our Labour champions.