The Glenrothes By-election 2008

'Labour fear defeat in Glenrothes - which borders his Fife seat of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath - would wreck a relaunch. They are considering a poll two days after the US presidential election.' Sunday Mail, 24 th August 2008.

Gordon Brown To Delay Glenrothes By-Election To November

Embarrassment for Brown as Glenrothes's late incumbent was denied compensation for the 'asbestos' cancer that killed him

From the Sunday Mail 24 th August 2008

LABOUR are set to delay the Glenrothes by-election to November 6 to save Gordon Brown's autumn "push".

The Prime Minister promises a battling conference speech in Manchester next month and new measures to help families in a bid to reassert his leadership.

But Labour fear defeat in Glenrothes - which borders his Fife seat of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath - would wreck a relaunch. They are considering a poll two days after the US presidential election.

A Labour source said: "The thought process is that Gordon will have turned a corner by then. Losing in his own fiefdom was once unthinkable. Now it's a case of damage limitation."