00:00 Clearly, the people of Rotherglen and Hamilton West have spoken and they've voted for change.
00:09 They've been let down by two incompetent governments and they've been let down by a rule-breaking
00:16 MP.
00:18 It's important that we have a by-election as quickly as possible.
00:22 The earliest possible date is the 5th of October.
00:25 We are raring to go with Scottish Labour's local candidate, Michael Shanks.
00:30 He lives in the constituency, he's a teacher.
00:33 He will be the change that the people of this constituency need and we're looking forward
00:38 to the campaign.
00:39 Are you at all surprised by the result today?
00:42 No, we were confident of meeting the target but I have to say, at the end of the day,
00:48 it is up to the people in the constituency to speak and they've done so very clearly.
00:54 They don't want Margaret Ferrier as the MP anymore.
00:57 They want the opportunity of a fresh start and that fresh start, we think, is with Scottish
01:02 Labour.
01:03 Can you tell me a little bit about the candidate?
01:05 Michael Shanks is a teacher.
01:08 In fact, his first job was at a school within the constituency.
01:12 He lives here, he's aware of the issues that concern people in the area and he will make
01:18 a great representative for the people of Rotherglen and Hamilton West, given the opportunity to
01:24 serve this area.
01:25 Thank you.
01:25 [Applause]
