 | 'The result was a blow for Blair, struggling to face down rebels in his party over key reforms, and his finance minister Gordon Brown, who took part in the election campaign.' Independent, South Africa, 10 th February 2006. |  |
| 'The result was a blow for Blair, struggling to face down rebels in his party over key reforms, and his finance minister Gordon Brown, who took part in the election campaign.' Independent, South Africa, 10 th February 2006. | |
London - Britain's ruling Labour party suffered a shock defeat to the leaderless Liberal Democrats in a Scottish by-election on Friday.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour had a strong 11 500 majority in the eastern seat of Dunfermline and West Fife overturned by Britain's third party.
The result was a blow for Blair, struggling to face down rebels in his party over key reforms, and his finance minister Gordon Brown, who took part in the election campaign.
Labour had been expected to retain the seat comfortably, while the Liberal Democrats are still reeling after a string of scandals involving senior party members.
"This is truly an historic victory," winning candidate Willie Rennie said in a speech. "The people have sent a powerful message to the Labour government that will rock the foundations of Downing Street."
The Liberal Democrats were shaken last month by the departure of their leader Charles Kennedy after he admitted having a drinking problem.
Two weeks later, Mark Oaten, one of Kennedy's possible successors, quit the leadership race after he admitted seeing a male prostitute. Another potential leader, Simon Hughes, admitted he had misled the media over his homosexuality.
Despite the party's troubles, Rennie emerged as a comfortable winner in the Scottish election.
He polled 12 391 votes to secure a 1 800 majority over Labour's candidate Catherine Stihler, who finished second.
The seat became vacant after the area's Labour MP Rachel Squire died from cancer last month.
The campaign saw a number of senior party politicians visit the constituency, including Brown, Kennedy and Conservative leader David Cameron.
Blair, who won a third straight election last May, has faced calls from within his party to step down after he announced he would not seek a fourth term.
Earlier this month, he was forced to deny that his authority was waning after he suffered his second and third defeats in parliamentary votes since he came to power in 1997.
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