Glasgow North East: Profile - Willie Bain

Published on Friday 13 November 2009 08:06

LABOUR'S Willie Bain was the first person in his family to go to university, and Glasgow North East was the first time he had stood as a would-be MP.

Mr Bain, 36, studied law but, instead of pursuing a legal career, decided to stay in education.

He now teaches public law and spends three days a week in London lecturing.

The rest of the week he stays with his parents, William, a former lift engineer, and Catherine, a former payroll clerk, at the flat where he grew up in a high-rise block in the constituency.

Labour relentlessly emphasised his local credentials, contrasting them with those of SNP candidate David Kerr.

Labour noticed that Mr Kerr had been described as "Dennistoun-born" in a campaign leaflet – but had also been described as "born and educated in Cumbernauld" when he contested a previous by-election in Falkirk West.

Mr Bain was born at Stobhill Hospital in the constituency, and went to Strathclyde University.

He campaigned hard on what Labour claimed was neglect of Glasgow by the SNP administration in Holyrood, focusing on issues like the decision to cancel a planned Glasgow airport rail link.

He also took a tough stance on knife crime, demanding automatic jail terms for those caught carrying knives.

And while the SNP campaigned hard on the legacy of Labour's 74 years in power in Glasgow, Mr Bain portrayed the city as a victim of the SNP Government's budget plans.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah visited the constituency and backed Mr Bain during a visit on Friday last week.

Comedian Eddie Izzard also joined him during campaigning in the final push for votes.

Speaking during a photocall with Izzard, Mr Bain said Labour was not taking "a single vote for granted".

He said: "It's a very close contest.

"I mean, if you look at the context of this by-election, people are angry about the way that Westminster has behaved over the expenses system. I think tomorrow can be about a vote for change.

"I've made very it clear I want to see major reforms to the expenses system.

"I think whoever is elected tomorrow has got to live up to very high standards and that means not buying houses in London, not claiming for food, not claiming for furniture or many of the other things that have brought politics into disrepute."

But he did not criticise former Speaker Michael Martin, now Lord Martin, for his handling of the expenses controversy.

The day after his selection he said: "I'd like to thank Michael Martin for his years of service to Glasgow and the whole country.

"Michael worked hard for the people of this constituency throughout his 30 years in Parliament. It would be an honour to follow him as the local MP."