Livingston by-election

'The main talking point was the swing of 10.2 per cent to the Scottish National Party, which already has a strong council presence in the area and which had Labour on the back foot throughout the campaign over the downgrading of the local hospital. If that sort of swing was repeated throughout Scotland at the next big electoral test - the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007 - the SNP would win more than 50 seats at Holyrood, putting it in position to become the largest single party and able to lead a coalition administration.' Angus Macleod in the Times, 1 st October 2005.

Livingston by-election, 29 th September 2005

Rt Hon Robert Finlayson Cook, 28 th February 1946 - 6 th August 2005

Following the death of the Rt Hon Robert Finlayson Cook while Hillwalking on the 6 th of August, 2005, a by-election will be held for the Westminster parliamentary seat of Livingston on Thursday 29 th September.

Assessment

1. Candidates
   
   
2. Constituency assessment
   
   
3. Previous electoral statistics for the Livingston Westminster constituency
   
   
4. How Livingston voted in Holyrood elections
   
   
5. How Livingston voted in European elections
   
   

Links

1. Livingston by-election latest (SNP)

The Result

1. The Result

2. Scots by-election votes counted 29 th September 2005
   
   
3. Labour keeps Cook's Commons seat 29 th September 2005
   
   
4. Labour keeps Cook's Commons seat (update) 29 th September 2005
   
   
5. SNP slash Labour majorities in by-elections 30 th September 2005
   
   
6. Labour survive turnout slump as SNP gain 30 th September 2005
   
   
7. Double victory for Labour 30 th September 2005
   
   
8. Labour holds off SNP threat to retain Robin Cook's seat 30 th September 2005
   
   
9. Why did SNP fail to convert its swing into wins? 30 th September 2005
   
   
10. SNP licking their wounds as Labour scrape past the posts 30 th September 2005
    
    
11. Labour win, but Salmond believes power is in sight 1 st October 2005
    
    
12. Nationalist surge in by-election 1 st October 2005
    
    
13. Labour holds off SNP threat to retain Robin Cook's seat 1 st October 2005
    
    
14. Countdown to 2007 starts here . . . but where have all the voters gone? 1 st October 2005
    
    
15. Abysmal turnout at twin by-elections offers a devastating comment on the state of British politics 2 nd October 2005
    
    
16. Home Fools 2 nd October 2005
    
    

Rt Hon Robin Cook

1. Cook wins Commons ovation 17 th March 2003
   
   
2. Robin Cook's Resignation Speech 17 th March 2003
   
   
3. Resignation Speech in video (BBC News) 17 th March 2003
   
   
4. Obituary: Robin Cook 6 th August 2005
   
   
5. First minister leads Cook tribute 6 th August 2005
   
   
6. Robin Cook dies aged 59 after heart attack 7 th August 2005
   
   
7. Robin Cook: A Tribute 7 th August 2005
   
   
8. Albright to speak at Cook's funeral 9 th August 2005
   
   
9. Blair snubs Cook funeral for his holiday 9 th August 2005
   
   
10. Blair is accused of Cook 'snub 12 th August 2005
    
    
11. Brown's tribute to Robin Cook 12 th August 2005
    
    
12. Left and right join Cook tribute 12 th August 2005
    
    
13. Leading figures honour Robin Cook 12 th August 2005
    
    
14. Pundit defends Cook funeral jibe 13 th August 2005
    
    
15. Cook aimed for Father of House 1 st September 2005
    
    
16. Labour gaffe lists Robin Cook for speaking date 20 th September 2005
    
    
17. Conference Iraq debate plans in honour of Cook 'sabotaged' 25 th September 2005
    
    

By-election news

1. Brown moves to make Cook ally next MP 14 th August 2005
   
   
2. Cook's election agent wins Brown's backing for seat 15 th August 2005
   
   
3. Council deputy leader to run for Cook's seat 17 th August 2005
   
   
4. Cook tragedy gives Nats an opening 17 th August 2005
   
   
5. Labour moves quickly to fill Cook's seat 19 th August 2005
   
   
6. Race on to succeed Cook 21 st August 2005
   
   
7. Cook's ex-agent seeks nomination 22 nd August 2005
   
   
8. No women among five on the Cook seat shortlist 24 th August 2005
   
   
9. Labour attacked over candidate list 24 th August 2005
   
   
10. There's not too many Cooks, but candidates ready 24 th August 2005
    
    
11. Cook's agent to stand in election 26 th August 2005
    
    
12. Devine wins Cook seat nomination 26 th August 2005
    
    
13. Dundas selected to fight Livingston by-election 26 th August 2005
    
    
14. Only the SNP can beat Labour in Livingston 26 th August 2005
    
    
15. I worked with women. Temptation was there and I gave in.. I regret it 27 th August 2005
    
    
16. My sex and drink shame - by Labour candidate 27 th August 2005
    
    
17. Scottish nationalism confronts Livingston endgame 30 th August 2005
    
    
18. Devine calling to become MP 1 st September 2005
    
    
19. SSP selects candidate for Livingston by election 1 st September 2005
    
    
20. Making the Livingston election more important 1 st September 2005
    
    
21. Date is set for Cook by-election 2 nd September 2005
    
    
22. UKIP to contest Livingston seat 4 th September 2005
    
    
23. Fight for Cook's seat gets serious 5 th September 2005
    
    
24. Livingston candidate dismisses war in Iraq 6 th September 2005
    
    
25. By-election campaigns under way 7 th September 2005
    
    
26. SNP publish survey of Livingston fuel prices 8 th September 2005
    
    
27. SNP claims 'Labour are on the run' 10 th September 2005
    
    
28. Hospital fight is key issue in election bid 12 th September 2005
    
    
29. 'Lazarus' Lally confirms plan to stand as independent 13 th September 2005
    
    
30. Former Tory Brown to fight as independent for Cook's old seat 13 th September 2005
    
    
31. Livingston by-election to be a 10-horse race 16 th September 2005
    
    
32. Executive 'will save £450,000 with fire cuts' 16 th September 2005
    
    
33. Brown backs by-election candidate 19 th September 2005
    
    
34. Oil test for Brown on vote trail 19 th September 2005
    
    
35. Brown confronts SNP on issue of 'Scotland's oil' 20 th September 2005
    
    
36. Salmond oils up votes in poll battle 20 th September 2005
    
    
37. Constance reveals new admission figures 20 th September 2005
    
    
38. Hospital rethink pressure grows 20 th September 2005
    
    
39. SSP election agent dies campaigning in Livingston 21 st September 2005
    
    
40. St John's more cost effective than ERI 21 st September 2005
    
    
41. Chancellor's flying visit to Livingston 21 st September 2005
    
    
42. SNP launch 'Labour's pensions bombshell' leaflet 21 st September 2005
    
    
43. Salmond plans SNP home win 21 st September 2005
    
    
44. Locals in battle for Happy Valley 22 nd September 2005
    
    
45. By-election candidates have their moment 23 rd September 2005
    
    
46. Number of offences by bail bandits shoots up 23 rd September 2005
    
    
47. Constance condemns Labour over weapons offences rise 25 th September 2005
    
    
48. Nationalist candidate speaks out against ID cards 26 th September 2005
    
    
49. SNP launch final week with focus on public services and crime 26 th September 2005
    
    
50. SNP on attack as rate of drug crime shoots up 26 th September 2005
    
    
51. Labour was facing defeat in a poster battle at a crucial by-election 26 th September 2005
    
    
52. Constance challenges Devine to attend final hustings 27 th September 2005
    
    
53. SNP fears for St John's mortuary closure 27 th September 2005
    
    
54. SNP cites rise in drug offences 27 th September 2005
    
    
55. Salmond: "Squabbling partners in crisis in Livingston" 27 th September 2005
    
    
56. Lothian cancer bed capacity shows 10 per cent reduction 27 th September 2005
    
    
57. Livingston prepares to go to the polls for by-election 27 th September 2005
    
    
58. Salmond mocks lame duck Blair 27 th September 2005
    
    
59. Scotland: Socialists fight two by-elections' 28 th September 2005
    
    
60. Final day in by-election battles 28 th September 2005
    
    
61. Race to clinch last-ditch votes 28 th September 2005
    
    
62. Voters can give Blair the shove 28 th September 2005
    
    
63. West Lothian house prices outstripping salaries 28 th September 2005
    
    
64. Tactical retreat but Kennedy claims a victory 28 th September 2005
    
    
65. Kennedy forced out by Labour activists 28 th September 2005
    
    
66. Hospital set to lose mortuary workers to ERI 28 th September 2005
    
    
67. Did poll hopefuls tick right boxes? 28 th September 2005
    
    
68. Campaigning gets bitter as poll day looms 28 th September 2005
    
    
69. Candidates take safe route to Cook seat 28 th September 2005
    
    
70. Poster war raises tempers in contest for Cook's old seat 29 th September 2005
    
    
71. Give us victory at the double 29 th September 2005
    
    
72. Labour faces by-election 'big test' 29 th September 2005
    
    
73. Labour fears low voter turnout may let SNP in at by-elections 29 th September 2005
    
    
74. Scottish Nationalists May Gain Ground in Labour Stronghold 29 th September 2005
    
    
75. Electoral by-election cliff-hanger 29 th September 2005
    
    
76. Election victory at the double 30 th September 2005
    
    
77. Labour banks on late rush to ballot box 30 th September 2005