 | 'The result is a blow for Mr Brown who sits for next door Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and represented some areas of Dunfermline and Fife West before boundary changes last year.' Lars Niven in the Courier, 10 th February 2006. |  |
| 'The result is a blow for Mr Brown who sits for next door Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and represented some areas of Dunfermline and Fife West before boundary changes last year.' Lars Niven in the Courier, 10 th February 2006. | |
THE LIBERAL Democrats recorded a sensational win in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election in the early hours of today.
The Labour stronghold was captured by candidate Willie Rennie who took the seat with an 1800 majority on a 16.24% swing.
It was a bombshell by-election result in Chancellor Gordon Brown's backyard.
Mr Rennie is a former chief executive of Scottish Liberal Democrats and an account director for a firm advising charities and businesses. He was runner up in the Scottish Coal-Carrying Championship.
The result is a blow for Mr Brown who sits for next door Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and represented some areas of Dunfermline and Fife West before boundary changes last year.
He campaigned strongly in the by-election, intervening on the issue of Forth bridge tolls.
However the outcome is a boost for Lib Dem leadership contender Sir Menzies Campbell who represents nearby North East Fife.
It comes despite the turmoil in the party after the resignation of former leader Charles Kennedy.
At last May's General Election the late Rachel Squire won the seat for Labour with a 11,562 majority.
With both the Lib Dems and the SNP claiming this week it was neck-and-neck, Mrs Catherine Stihler herself urged Labour supporters as late as Wednesday not to take anything for granted.
Full result:
Willie Rennie (LD) 12,391 (35.83%, +15.67%)
Catherine Stihler (Lab) 10,591 (30.63%, -16.81%)
Douglas Chapman (SNP) 7261 (21.00%, +2.07%)
Carrie Ruxton (C) 2702 (7.81%, -2.51%)
John McAllion (SSP) 537 (1.55%, -0.07%)
James Hargreaves (SCP) 411 (1.19%)
Thomas Minogue (Abolish Tolls) 374 (1.08%)
Ian Borland (UKIP) 208 (0.60%, -0.92%)
Dick Rodgers (Common Good) 103 (0.30%)
LD maj 1,800 (5.21%) 16.24% swing Lab to LD. Electorate 71,017; Turnout 34,578 (48.69%, -11.21%) 2005: Lab maj 11,562 (27.27%) - Turnout 42,394 (59.90%).
In 2005: Squire (Lab) 20,111 (47.44%); Herbert (LD) 8549 (20.17%); Chapman (SNP) 8026 (18.93%); Smillie (C) 4376 (10.32%); Archibald (SSP) 689 (1.63%); Borland (UKIP) 643 (1.52%).
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