This left the second placed Conservatives to form a minority administration, although they also refused to work with the SNP and prior to the first meeting of the council after the election it was uncertain what would happen.

[1] Ultimately the Council met on 9 May 1977, SNP abstentions meant that Labour's nominee David Hodge was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow over the Conservatives Jack Richmond.

[4] Ahead of the election, the Herald reported that Labour were confident of success, with the party hopeful of gaining up to 20 seats, which would give them a large majority.

The Glasgow Herald observed the result was even more spectacular for Labour than had been predicted and attributed this to voters wishing to see an end to "the City Chambers comedy show" of the last few years.

It also attributed the Labour gains from the Conservatives, which were reflected in other parts of Scotland, as a result of the unpopularity of Margaret Thatcher's government, which had been in power for one year.