 | 'Labour saw an 11,500 majority crumble as the Lib Dems stormed to a sensational win on Thursday night. It was their first by-election defeat in Scotland since Nationalist Jim Sillars took Govan in 1988.' Magnus Gardham And Pippa Crerar in the Daily Record, 11 th February 2006. |  |
A BITTER inquest was under way yesterday after Labour's crushing defeat in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election.
Labour saw an 11,500 majority crumble as the Lib Dems stormed to a sensational win on Thursday night.
It was their first by-election defeat in Scotland since Nationalist Jim Sillars took Govan in 1988.
Willie Rennie's victory, in Gordon Brown's back yard, sparked fresh questions about the Chancellor becoming Prime Minister.
But Labour bigwigs shared out the blame. Scots Secretary Alistair Darling said: "I accept entire responsibility for the conduct of this election."
He also pointed the finger at the Executive, led by First Minister Jack McConnell, for failing to allay fears over £4 tolls on the Forth Road Bridge.
That was a key election issue for Fife's commuters. He said: "No one, but no one, was in favour of these measures.
"The problem was that the Executive have a process to follow through so they could not put the thing to bed before or during the election campaign.
"We tried to put it to bed but every time we did it got back out again."
He said Lib Dem Transport Minister Tavish Scott had been "conspicuous by his silence" on tolls.
Brown, MP for neighbouring Kirkcaldy, took charge of the campaign. But the bridge tolls overshadowed his efforts to get across a pledge to create 10,000 jobs in Fife.
And 700 jobs were axed at printer firm Lexmark in Rosyth at the start of the fight.
But Darling denied the result had left Brown - in Moscow yesterday meeting G8 finance ministers - red-faced.
He said: "People were sending off a very clear message about a range of matters - they weren't electing a Government. This campaign was dominated by local issues."
Brown was said to be furious. Opponents insisted he was badly damaged.
Lib Dem leadership hopeful Sir Menzies Campbell said: "People will say, if Gordon Brown is going to be Prime Minister and can't hold a traditional Labour seat on his own doorstep, how is he going to go down in the leafy glades of Essex or Surrey?
"This must raise some questions about the succession."
Campbell joined Lib Dem supporters for a walkabout in Dunfermline. NewMP Rennie was mobbed by activists.
He said: "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."
Rennie claimed an 1800 majority amid dramatic scenes on Thursday night.
Labour's vote collapsed from 20,111 at the General Election to 10,591, masking dreadful nights for the SNP and Tories.
The SNP began the campaign neck and neck with the scandal-hit Lib Dems but failed to make an impact.
The Tories, fighting their first by-election with David Cameron as leader, remained a distant fourth.
Lib Dem leadership contender Simon Hughes said: "It is the end of the Cameron honeymoon."
The by-election came after sitting MP Rachel Squire died from a brain tumour.
A GAMBLER lost £10,000 after betting on Labour to hold the "sure thing" seat at odds of 1-10. The London punter stood to win only £1000.
Return to home page