SCOTTISH Greens candidate Holly Bruce has beaten SNP council leader Susan Aitken in first preference votes.
In the second declaration of the day, the Greens eclipsed the SNP to take the top spot at the Glasgow count for the Langside ward.
Susan Aitken was re-elected, alongside another SNP councillor and one Labour, but did not take the most votes home.
Speaking to the National after the results were declared, Bruce said: "It was surprising but we've done a lot of good campaigning in Langside.
"I'm so so pleased for our activists, for the residents who voted me first preference , absolutely incredible. I'm so so pleased.
An excellent result for Holly Bruce, who came first in Langside, Glasgow! 💚🗳️ pic.twitter.com/JTO0hPcvyp
— Scottish Greens (@scottishgreens) May 6, 2022
"Thank you for everyone who voted and everyone helped with the campaign."
Asked if she thought her win was a good sign for the Greens, Bruce said: "Oh we're on a roll, we're really hopeful that we get a record amount of seats in Glasgow so we'll see when the votes come in but we're feeling good about it."
Asked if other parties should be afraid of the Greens, she added: "Absolutely, we came and did what we wanted to do, we're trying to get a record amount of people elected in Glasgow and I'll hopefully be part of a team that will bring forward our manifesto in the city chambers."
The 28-year-old also said she was keen to "shake things up" in the council and represent the views of young women.
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie told The National: "We've had so many great volunteers out in Langside and other parts of the city. It's an incredible moment of celebration to retain the seat, because we had a councillor in this ward, but to come first on first preferences is really extraordinary and I'm delighted for Holly and I'm sure she's going to be a phenomenal representative for her community."
Aitken told LBC: "We have a record we absolutely are proud of. There are things that certainly would not have happened over the past five years if the SNP hadn't been in power, the equal pay settlement being one of them.
"I don't believe Glasgow would have hosted COP26 had it not been for the lead that we've shown in climate ambition for this post-industrial city."
