 | 'It will come as a massive blow to Gordon Brown. The Chancellor lives in the constituency, is MP for neighbouring Kirkcaldy and took personal charge of the campaign.' Magnus Gardham in the Daily Record, 10 th February 2006. |  |
| 'It will come as a massive blow to Gordon Brown. The Chancellor lives in the constituency, is MP for neighbouring Kirkcaldy and took personal charge of the campaign.' Magnus Gardham in the Daily Record, 10 th February 2006. | |
THE Lib Dems left Labour reeling last night after sweeping to a stunning by-election win in Dunfermline and West Fife.
Willie Rennie, 38, overturned an 11,500 majority to take one of Labour's safest seats in Scotland in the election, which followed the death of MP Rachel Squire.
Following the announcement, Rennie said: "This is a sensational victory.
"The Liberal Democrats have shown we are clear challengers to Labour in their heartlands.
"We have shown we can win right across the country."
Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen said it was a "stunning" victory for his party.
He added: "People are feeling neglected and fed up with the Labour Party. There is a real sense we are the party of the future."
Labour candidate Catherine Stihler saw her party's vote collapse.
It was the first by-election defeat for Labour in Scotland since Jim Sillars took Govan for the SNP in 1988.
And it will come as a massive blow to Gordon Brown.
The Chancellor lives in the constituency, is MP for neighbouring Kirkcaldy and took personal charge of the campaign.
Turn-out was a higher-than-expected 48.69 per cent and, as counting progressed, it became clear that the "Edinburgh commuter vote" had swung behind the Lib Dems.
During the campaign, the Lib Dems were rocked by scandals, including the loss of leader Charles Kennedy after he admitted being an alcoholic and the sex lives of would-be leaders Simon Hughes and Mark Oaten.
But voters ignored the party's troubles and gave Kennedy a warm welcome when he came out to pound the streets of the constituency in support of Rennie.
POLL RESULTS
Willie Rennie (LD)
12,391 (35.83%, +15.67%)
Catherine Stihler (Lab)
10,591 (30.63%, -16.81%)
Douglas Chapman (SNP)
7,261 (21.00%, +2.07%)
Carrie Ruxton (C)
2,702 (7.81%, -2.51%)
John McAllion (SSP)
537 (1.55%, -0.07%)
Other
1096 (3.17%)
Electorate 71,017
Turnout 34,578 (48.69%, -11.21%)
16.24% swing Lab to LD
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