 | 'Professor John Curtice, of the politics department at Strathclyde University, said the result had been "a sensational result and extremely embarrassing for Gordon Brown".' Tom Gordon, Scottish Political Correspondent in the Herald, 10 th February 2006. |  |
THE Liberal Democrats pulled off their most sensational by-election victory in Scotland early today when they overcame an 11,562 Labour majority to take the Dunfermline and West Fife seat.
The result was a shock defeat for Labour in Gordon Brown's back yard, and a major embarrassment for the chancellor, after a campaign in which he had taken a leading role.
It was the first time Labour had lost a Westminster by-election in Scotland since the SNP took Govan in 1988, and the first time Labour had lost to the Liberals in a Scottish Westminster by-election since 1945.
The outcome was a shattering blow to the authority of the chancellor, who campaigned personally on the ground. His appeal as a potential prime minister will now be questioned by many senior figures within his party, and a backlash against his tactics in the by-election had begun last night.
Willie Rennie, the LibDem candidate, won by hammering home the message that Labour had taken the area for granted and it was time for a change.
After a bruising campaign, he took the seat with an 1800 majority on a 16.2% swing, despite the party being beset by the spectacular upheavals of its national leadership issue. The result is a boost for LibDem leadership contender Sir Menzies Campbell, who represents nearby Fife North East.
Nicol Stephen, Scottish LibDem leader, said: "This has been a sensational and historic victory. We fought an outstanding campaign with an outstanding candidate and it is clear the LibDems are a very powerful force for the future in Scottish politics."
Mr Rennie is a former chief executive of the party and an account director for a firm advising charities and businesses. He is a past runner-up in the Scottish coal-carrying championship.
In his victory address, he said: "Tonight we have seen a powerful message to the Labour government that will rock the foundations of Downing Street, both No 10 and No 11.
"Labour have taken the people up and down the country for granted for far too long. There has been too much spin and not enough delivery. It's time that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both got that message.
"People want a change but they do not want to go back to the Conservatives. This by-election has shown that the Conservatives are irrelevant to most of Britain. One thing does not change under David Cameron: losing. This must be a deeply depressing time for the SNP. This is truly an historic victory."
Catherine Stihler, the losing Labour candidate, said it was not the result which Rachel Squire, the MP whose death last month triggered the by-election, would have wanted. "But I think I know what she would have said. We have to listen to the people and we have to learn. We will learn." Douglas Chapman, SNP candidate, said: "This is a fantastic result for us. We got a 10% swing." He emphasised that "massive increase in our swing is quite an achievement". However, the SNP remained stalled in third place, raising fresh doubts over Alex Salmond's leadership ability.
Carrie Ruxton, the Tory candidate, said: "It's been an extremely proud time to be a Conservative."
Even before the votes were counted, Labour stalwarts criticised the party's campaign. Local members were furious the campaign was launched on the day that Lexmark announced the loss of 700 jobs.
They were also angered at Mr Brown's decision to be so involved in the campaign, and were particularly annoyed by his intervention on the controversy over tolls on the Forth road bridge, and his announcement that a second Forth road bridge would be built.
Professor John Curtice, of the politics department at Strathclyde University, said the result had been "a sensational result and extremely embarrassing for Gordon Brown". The 16.2% swing from Labour to the LibDems epitomised the government's difficulties in losing ground since the Iraq war.
"It may be that Mr Brown is not the answer to that problem. It could also mean that Mr Blair goes sooner rather than later. It's a salutary reminder to Labour of how badly they did in last year's general election when they got just over 36%."
He said it had also been a bad night for the Conservatives, whose share of the votes had gone down 2.5 percentage points to 7.8%. "It's also the worst SNP result in a by-election since 1982 on the change in share of the votes. The SNP's potential as the natural repository for protest votes is now undermined.
"If the SNP were not worried about coming third behind the LibDems in the general election, they will be a lot more worried now."
The Result
Willie Rennie LibDem 12,391
Catherine Stihler Lab 10,591
Douglas Chapman SNP 7261
Carrie Ruxton Con 2702
Maj 1800
Turnout 49%
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