Frank McNally wins Coatbridge & Bellshill as seat changes hands for fourth consecutive election

Frank McNally is the new MP for Coatbridge & Bellshill after the constituency changed hands for the fourth time in as many general elections.

The Labour candidate gained a majority of 6344 over SNP incumbent Steven Bonnar, and now becomes one of two current North Lanarkshire councillors to be heading to Westminster alongside new constituency neighbour Kenneth Stevenson in Airdrie & Shotts.

Coatbridge – which had been represented by the now Sir Tom Clarke for 33 years until 2015 – has then switched between the two parties at each poll since, with Phil Boswell and Hugh Gaffney respectively serving for the SNP and Labour for two years each before Mr Bonnar’s 2019 win.

Addressing his new constituents as he spoke at the count at Ravenscraig sports centre in the early hours of Friday, new MP Mr McNally said: “Thank you for placing your trust in me – being afforded the opportunity to serve the communities I’ve always called home is humbling and a responsibility I do not take lightly.

“From one end of this constituency to the other, people have sought change and have made their voices heard loud and clear after 14 years of choas and division.

“People have turned to Labour to deliver change to transform our society for the better; today we’re set to write a new chapter in Scotland’s story and our government will fight to make it better and fairer.”

He thanked his family and campaign activists; and praised outgoing MP Mr Bonnar, who was previously also a North Lanarkshire councillor for an adjacent ward.

Mr McNally said: “I’ve known Steven for many years and know he is wholly committed to the causes he believes in; I want to thank him and his staff for their service to the communities of Coatbridge and Bellshill and wish Steven, his family and his staff all the very best for the future.”

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