Dunfermline & West Fife by-election 2006

'Of course we are disappointed about the by-election result. We always want to win.' Deputy Prime Minister 'Basher' Prescott, 10 th February 2006.

Labour analyse by-election loss

From the Scotsman 10 th February 2006

Labour chiefs have been analysing what went wrong in a by-election which saw a safe Labour seat tumble to the Liberal Democrats in Gordon Brown's own back yard.

As the inquest got under way the party put on a brave public face, insisting the loss of Dunfermline and West Fife was down to purely local issues. But jubilant Liberal Democrats said Tony Blair's party was paying the price for taking voters for granted.

The Prime Minister made no mention of the defeat when he opened a school in Liverpool before attending Labour's spring conference in Blackpool.

But deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said: "Of course we are disappointed about the by-election result. We always want to win.

"We should have won up there. But we did out best, we put our case and we'll get on now with delivering the programme that we promised at the last election."

Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling blamed Labour's defeat on local issues, and denied the result reflected badly on Chancellor Gordon Brown, who lives in the constituency and was prominent in the campaign.

"I accept entire responsibility for the conduct of this election," said Mr Darling, who attributed Labour's defeat to voter anger over issues that range from polls on the Forth road bridge to job losses, hospital cutbacks and the state of Dunfermline town centre.

Liberal Democrat by-election winner Willie Rennie staged a victory parade down the main street of the town he sensationally captured from Labour after overturning a majority of more than 11,500.

He was surrounded by jubilant placard-waving supporters as he walked down the high street of Dunfermline and two of the three Liberal Democrat leadership contenders, Simon Hughes and Sir Menzies Campbell, were also there to bask in their party's hour of triumph.

Mr Rennie declared: "We have engaged on the issues that matter to people in this constituency. People are fed up with Labour. They have taken our country for granted for too long - there is too much spin and not enough delivery."