Dunfermline & West Fife by-election 2006

'I understand Gordon Brown is in Moscow. I suspect he should apply for political asylum and stay there because it is a deeply embarrassing vote for him.' SNP leader Alex Salmond, MP, 10 th February 2006.

Darling: We shouldn't have lost by-election

From the Evening Times 10 th February 2006

LABOUR'S shock by-election defeat was a "very bad result", Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling admitted today, but he insisted it was due to local issues.

Liberal Democrat candidate Willie Rennie overturned an 11,562 Labour majority yesterday to win the Dunfermline and Fife West seat at Westminster, despite his party's recent troubles.

The result came after Labour big guns Mr Darling and Chancellor Gordon Brown had campaigned in the constituency.

Mr Darling said: "We shouldn't have lost the seat, but we did. It was a classic by-election fought very much on local issues."

He said the question of Forth Bridge tolls, the local hospital, the town centre and job losses at the Lexmark computer accessories factory in the early part of the campaign were the key factors.

He added: "We're the Government. We were in the firing line and the votes coalesced around the Liberal Democrat candidate.

"Yesterday, they weren't voting for a government. When they were voting for a government eight months ago, there was a thumping big Labour majority."

Mr Darling also played down claims the defeat was a personal blow for Mr Brown, who represents the neighbouring Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency and was heavily involved in the campaign.

Mr Darling added: "It shouldn't come as a surprise MPs, including the Chancellor, would take an interest in all by-elections."

Mr Rennie, an account director for a firm advising charities and businesses, won the seat by 1800 votes, a 16.24% swing.

The Scottish National Party were in third after increasing its vote share by barely 2%. The Tories dropped to 7.8%, despite a campaign appearance by new party leader David Cameron.

Mr Rennie, a former chief executive of Scottish Liberal Democrats, said his victory shows people are "fed-up with Labour".v He said: "This election is quite symbolic. People are fed-up with Labour in their heartlands because Labour thinks it will get elected without doing any work. This shows that no longer is the case."

The result despite LibDem turmoil following the resignation for former leader Charles Kennedy is a boost for acting party chief and leadership contender Sir Menzies Campbell, who represents nearby Fife North East.

He said: "The Liberal Democrats are back in business."v SNP leader Alex Salmond denied his party had performed poorly.

He said: "I understand Gordon Brown is in Moscow. I suspect he should apply for political asylum and stay there because it is a deeply embarrassing vote for him."

Shadow Scottish minister David Mundell said it was always going to be a "very difficult" constituency for the Conservatives and rejected suggestions the result was a rebuff for Mr Cameron following his visit.

He said: "This is a constituency that was, within a generation, electing communists. It wasn't going to be a seat where we were going to cause a seismic shift in public opinion."

Defeated Labour candidate Catherine Stihler, a Euro MP for Scotland, paid tribute to Rachel Squire, whose death led to the vote.

She said: "This is not a result Rachel would have wanted but I know what she would have said. ÔWe have to listen to the people and we have to learn'. We fought for Labour values and we lost but we'll keep on fighting for them."