Why Labour has already lost Glasgow

As one by election comes to an end,another probably far more important one looms.

Writing on Ft.com Harry Reid sets the scene

I think Labour has already failed the real test of Glasgow East. The state of the constituency is a testament to political failure on a depressing scale. The statistics are dire. Male life expectancy is 63, which is 14 years below the UK average. Unemployment runs at 25 per cent and about 40 per cent of the constituents live on benefits. About 40 per cent of the children live in workless households. Sadly, “household” is not always the most appropriate term. The teenage pregnancy rate is 40 per cent above the national average.

and reminds us that

These appalling indices point to those living the dependency culture on the margins of our society. Yet just a few generations ago Glasgow was the greatest industrial city of the British empire. At one time it produced half the world’s ships and a third of its railway locomotives. It could be argued that many people in the UK enjoyed a prosperity that was in part built on the gargantuan efforts of industrial Glasgow.

Of cause Labour cannoy be completely to balme for the statistics,The Tory government of the 80's can be blamed to some extent for the loss of the industrial base.Nevertheless it is a sad indicement of the country that these pockets exist in the 21st century and not just in Glasgow but other cities in the UK.