 | 'Some Tories did switch to the Liberal Democrats just for this by-election in an attempt to land damaging wounds on Gordon Brown, a result which delighted senior Conservatives at Westminster. But whatever pleasure they take from Mr Brown's misfortune will be tempered with the realism that they are still no nearer becoming a credible party - of opposition or government - in large parts of Scotland.' The Scotsman, 11 th February 2006. |  |
DAVID Cameron was mobbed when he came to campaign on Dunfermline High Street - some voters even asked for his autograph - but the Tory leader could do nothing to stop his party going backwards when the by-election result was declared early yesterday morning.
The Tory vote was down 2 per cent, and the party's opponents were clear about what the result meant. "The Cameron honeymoon is over," declared Sir Menzies Campbell, the acting leader of the victorious Liberal Democrats.
Indeed, on the evidence of this by-election, it does appear as if not even Mr Cameron can revive Tory fortunes in such unfriendly territory.
Some Tories did switch to the Liberal Democrats just for this by-election in an attempt to land damaging wounds on Gordon Brown, a result which delighted senior Conservatives at Westminster.
But whatever pleasure they take from Mr Brown's misfortune will be tempered with the realism that they are still no nearer becoming a credible party - of opposition or government - in large parts of Scotland.
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