Glasgow North East ward speak out ahead of General Election

(Image: Glasgow North East election map. Image from the UK Parliament)

Anne McLaughlin of the SNP previously held the constituency after gaining the seat from Labour’s Paul Sweeney at the 2019 General Election.

Maureen Burke of the Scottish Labour Party, who was first elected councillor at Glasgow City Council in 2012, will now be contesting for the seat. She was re-elected in 2017 and 2022.

Robert Henry Connelly, who is currently councillor for the Calton Ward, will be standing for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and Ewan Lewis - a data analyst who works with the Federation of Young European Greens - will be standing for the Scottish Greens.

Meanwhile Catherine McKernan is standing for the Alba Party and Jonathan Wamsley is representing Reform UK, along with Chris Sermanni who will represent the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition Party.

Gary Steele is standing for the Communist Party of Britain, while Sheila Thomson is standing for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

(Image: Image from PEEK)

PEEK is a charity helping hundreds of people across the Glasgow North East ward every single day. 

Hailed as 'life-saving', the organisation seeks to support children, young people and families through play, creative learning, improved wellbeing and volunteering.

Through wellbeing workshops, community food trucks and one-to-one family support, the charity helps youngsters develop skills and keeps families afloat. 

However, with the cost-of-living crisis, the charity says child poverty is a particular problem in the area, which they claim is ever-growing. 

(Image: Image from PEEK)

Michaela Collins MBE, CEO of PEEK told the Glasgow Times: "Child Poverty figures in Glasgow are rising instead of reducing, in the Calton ward where PEEK is based we have 743 children and families in deep poverty.

"Many of our families are no longer just coping, they are in a continuous state of crisis due to constant worrying about feeding their children, keeping a warm house and supporting their families to thrive not just survive."

She added: "Our children and young people are being continuously let down and this is having a direct impact on their health, education and opportunities to have a healthy and happy childhood."

(Image: Image from Newsquest)

The charity went on to say that the new government elected must put more investment and support into local communities and charites, to reduce the impact of poverty in the area. 

Michaela said: "We need more investment and support in local communities to address these issues and to reduce the impact of poverty on children, young people and families futures.

"All political parties should have eradicating Child Poverty as their number one priority. Talk to reduce Child Poverty figures is not enough, our families and communities not only need action, but they deserve it."

The charity said they would welcome positive changes from the new government to help charities like themselves. 

Voting for the 2024 General Election begins at 7am on July 4 and ends at 10pm on the same day. 

There are 10 candidates registered to stand in the election for Glasgow North East.

Sheila Thomson  Scottish Liberal Democrats

Maureen Burke           Scottish Labour

Anne McLaughlin                 Scottish National Party

Robert Henry Connelly  Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Donnie McLeod             Reform UK

Ewan Lewis                 Scottish Greens

Catherin McKernan    Alba 

Chris Sermanni        Scottish Trade Unionists

Jonathan Walmsley  Reform UK

Gary Steele              Communist Party of Britian

Last time

Glasgow North East result 2019

Anne McLaughlin SNP 15,911 46.9% 

Paul Sweeney Labour 13,363 39.4%

Lauren Bennie Conservative 3,558 10.5%

Nicholas Moohan Liberal Democrat 1,093 3.2%