Charles III William, Duke of Rothesay Swinney government The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP Kate Forbes MSP Sixth session Alison Johnstone MSP Angela Constance MSP Dorothy Bain KC The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections Local elections Referendums Starmer ministry The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP The 1973 Glasgow Govan by-election was held on 8 November 1973,[1] following the death of John Rankin, Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Glasgow Govan constituency.

[2] The Conservative Party, long the main opposition in the constituency, nominated John Mair, but as they were in mid-term government, they expected little from the election.

Party support had also suffered after refusing the important local employer Upper Clyde Shipbuilders a government loan to continue operations.

The party gained an additional 31.2% of the vote, and MacDonald sat alongside Donald Stewart, SNP MP for the Western Isles, in the House of Commons.

[4] In the aftermath of the defeat it was reported that there was criticism of the Labour members of Glasgow Corporation for failing to support Selby's campaign.