Dunfermline & West Fife by-election 2006

'The Lib Dems, despite being rocked by sex scandals and without a leader since alcoholic Charles Kennedy quit, caused a major embarrassment.' Andrew Porter in the Sun, 10 th February 2006.

Dun over by the Lib Dems

By Andrew Porter in the Sun 10 th February 2006

LABOUR suffered a humiliating by-election shocker early this morning.

An 11,500 majority was overturned by the Lib Dems in Dunfermline - Gordon Brown's own backyard.

The Chancellor lives in the constituency and campaigned for Labour there in recent days.

But the Lib Dems, despite being rocked by sex scandals and without a leader since alcoholic Charles Kennedy quit, caused a major embarrassment.

It is only the third by-election seat Labour have lost since Tony Blair came to power in 1997.

Victorious new MP Willie Rennie said: 'This result will rock the foundations of Downing Street, both Number 10 and Number 11.'

Mr Kennedy joined in the celebrations, saying: 'This is a fantastic victory for the Liberal Democrats - and a seismic event in Scottish and UK politics. I'm absolutely delighted.'

The Lib Dems turned over a majority of 11,500 in the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency to poll 12,391 votes compared with Labour's 10,591.

Mr Rennie, 38, added: 'People up and down the country are fed up with Labour for taking them for granted for too long.'

Labour candidate Catherine Stihler, 32, saw her campaign derailed when 700 workers were axed from Rosyth's Lexmark printer plant. She said: 'We have to listen to the people and learn.

The by-election came after the cancer death of MP Rachel Squire, 51.

Shock result in full

Dunfermline & Fife West

Willie Rennie (Lib Dem) 12,391

Catherine Stihler (Lab) 10,591

Douglas Chapman (SNP) 7,261

Carrie Ruxton (Con) 2,702

LIB DEM MAJORITY: 1,800

Swing from Labour to Liberal Democrats -16.24 per cent.

GENERAL ELECTION result:

Squire (Lab) 20,111;

Herbert (Lib Dem) 8,549;

Chapman (SNP) 8,026;

Smillie (Con) 4,376.