 | '2007 is established now as a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour with the SNP preparing for Government with Alex Salmond as First Minister.' Mid Scotland & Fife MSP Tricia Marwick, 29 th September 2006. |  |
| '2007 is established now as a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour with the SNP preparing for Government with Alex Salmond as First Minister.' Mid Scotland & Fife MSP Tricia Marwick, 29 th September 2006. | |
There was a by-election for the Markinch & Woodside East ward of Fife Council on the 28 of September 2006 following the death of Cllr David Rougvie on the 23 rd July 2006.
Markinch & Woodside East is in the Glenrothes Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Labour's John MacDougall MP) and in the Central Fife Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Labour's Christine May MSP).
Scottish National Party gain from Labour. Swing: Swing 30.09 % Labour to Scottish National Party.
| 28 th September 2006 By-election Turnout 43.41% (- 5.80 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Beare |  |
Scottish National Party | 892 | 55.72 % | + 26.17 % |
| Rev. Ivor Gibson |  |
Labour | 388 | 24.23 % | - 34.01 % |
| Bob Forrest 1 |  |
Liberal Democrat | 257 | 16.05 % | + 10.41 % |
| David Mole |  |
Conservative & Unionist | 39 | 2.44 % | - 1.12 % |
| Alexander Lawson |  |
Independent | 25 | 1.56 % | (+1.56 %) |
| Scottish National Party gain from Labour | |
Scottish National Party majority | 504 | 31.49 % | |
1 Previously a Fife Regional Cllr.
| 1 st May 2003 Turnout 49.21 % (- 11.63 %) 7 spoilt papers | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr David Rougvie | |
Labour | 1,074 | 58.24 % | + 15.32 % |
| John Beare | |
Scottish National Party | 545 | 29.55 % | + 7.94 % |
| Joan Chalmers | |
Conservative & Unionist | 121 | 6.56 % | - 0.06 % |
| Harry S. Hutton | |
Liberal Democrat | 104 | 5.64 % | - 23.21 % |
| Labour hold | |
Labour majority | 529 | 28.69 % | + 14.09 % |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 60.84 % (+ 13.64 %) 4 spoilt papers | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Rougvie | |
Labour | 979 | 42.92 % | + 4.47 % |
| Cllr John Urquhart 1 | |
Liberal Democrat | 658 | 28.85 % | - 10.76 % |
| John Birrell | |
Scottish National Party | 493 | 21.61 % | (+ 21.61 %) |
| Elizabeth Scott 2 | |
Conservative & Unionist | 121 | 6.62 % | - 5.35 % |
| Labour gain from Liberal Democrat | |
Labour majority | 321 | 14.60 % | |
1 Councillor for Cadham/Markinch/Star from 1995 - 1999.
2 Councillor for the Markinch ward of Kirkcaldy District Council from 1992 - 1996.
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 47.2 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr John Urquhart | |
Liberal Democrat | 576 | 39.61 % | |
| Vera Gemmell | |
Labour | 559 | 38.45 % | |
| Elizabeth Scott 2 | |
Conservative & Unionist | 174 | 11.97 % | |
| Fiona Purdon | |
Independent | 145 | 9.97 % | |
| Liberal Democrat win | |
Liberal Democrat majority | 17 | 1.17 % | |
2 Councillor for the Markinch ward of Kirkcaldy District Council from 1992 - 1996.
The SNP Candidate is local man, John Beare, Constituency Advisor to Tricia Marwick MSP, whose Constituency Office is in Markinch. He is Secretary of Markinch Xtra, a Community Charity who redeveloped the Old decrepit Tennis Courts in the local park into a modern play and skateboard space. He has been a member of Markinch Community Council since 1999.
He has been Chairperson of Markinch Primary School PA several times from 1999 to date.
He is the Convener of Central Fife SNP, Secretary of Glenrothes SNP and is a Member of the SNP National Council, Historic Scotland and Amnesty International. John Beare is also a member of the working group to establish a Community Group to Maintain & Protect Balbirnie Park.
He contested the Ward in 2003 and the Glenrothes Parliamentary Seat in 2005, gaining a notional 2.71 % swing from Labour which moved Glerothes up to 7 th on the SNP target list for the next Westminster election.
The Labour candidate is Ivor Gibson, a retired Church of Scotland minister. He beat Betty Jolly for the nomination, Ms Jolly having lost South Parks & Macedonia to the SNP's Alf Patey in the South Parks by-election in October 2000. It is believed that Labour had also approached former Labour Cllr Bob Taylor who contested Auchmuty in the 2003 local election as an independent, losing by 10 votes to Fiona Purdon. However, it is rumoured that Mr Taylor wishes to stand again as an Independent next year. The Rev Gibson is a former Chairperson of Markinchinch Community Council and resigned in 2002/3 following a row at a Labour Party meeting with Fiona Purdon, the then Secretary of the Community Council, and now Labour Cllr for the neighbouring ward of Auchmuty & Woodside West. He is a former religious education teacher at Glenwood High School and gives lectures on local history.
The Liberal candidate is Bob Forrest who lives in Strathmiglo, in North East Fife. He was born in Lanarkshire, went to school in Glasgow and is a graduate of St Andrews and Strathclyde Universities. A retired investment manager, he has lived in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. He served on the old Fife Regional Council as Cllr for Cupar and is an ex Convenor of North East Fife Lib Dems. In 2003 he contested Tayside North for the Lib Dems, coming fourth with 9.6 % of the vote.
The Tory candidate is David Mole from North East Fife. A graduate of St Andrews University, Dave has recently retired as Principal Teacher of science at Madras College. Dave's involvement with the Conservative Party goes back a long way, in the '60s he was chairman of his local Young Conservatives. From 1986 to 1993 he was a member, and ultimately chairman, of St Monans Branch of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. From 1997 to 2005 Dave was Executive Secretary of Central Fife Branch of Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and after the constituency reorganisation, Executive Secretary of the South Fife branch. He used to be an officer and instructor in the Red Cross and a Warrant Officer in 2435 (St Andrews) Squadron, Air Training Corps. Dave's interests are local history, especially the 18th Century Parish of Dunino and the University of St Andrews, heraldry (he is a member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland), chess and conservation. When he has any spare time he is Hon. Treasurer of the Auchtermuchty Community Centre.
Also standing as an Independent candidate is Alexander Lawson.
The death has been announced of Councillor David Rougvie who served the Markinch and Woodside East constituency of Fife Council.
Councillor Rougvie from Croft Crescent, Markinch was also Secretary of the Labour Group on the Council. He passed away after taking ill whilst on holiday in Wales.
David Rougvie had a long Involvement with Labour party politics in Central Fife for more than 30 years. He was Election Agent for Willie Hamilton, Henry McLeish, and most recently John MacDougall and Christine May.
Leader of the Administration Councillor Anne McGovern said: "David was a hard-working local politician and good friend. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
Fellow Glenrothes Councillors Kay Morrison and Bill Kay joined the tributes saying: "We were shocked to hear of David's death. His loss will create a big void in the local community where he was a tireless worker for his constituents. We will all miss him very much."
For more information contact
Colin McGregor, Communications Officer
Tel: 01592 413989
Fax: 01592 413939
Colin McGregor, Fife Council, Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT
TRIBUTES have been paid to local councillor David Rougvie who died at the weekend after becoming ill on holiday in Wales.
Mr Rougvie had represented Markinch and Woodside East on Fife Council since 1999.
He was also secretary of the local authority's Labour Group and secretary of the Constituency Labour Party.
Mr Rougvie had been involved with Labour party politics in Central Fife for more than 30 years and was election agent to Willie Hamilton, Henry McLeish and, most recently, John MacDougall and Christine May.
Born and bred in Markinch, he attended the local primary school and Buckhaven High School.
He was also a member of Markinch Youth Fellowship.
Mr Rougvie worked as a toolmaker with former Glenrothes company Anderson Boyes, latterly known as Anderson Strathclyde, before becoming a mature student.
He went on to train as a schoolteacher at Dundee University and his principal subjects were history and modern studies.
Mr Rougvie's first teaching job was at Ballingry Junior High and he went on to teach at Bell Baxter High in Cupar. He then taught at Abbotsgrange Middle School in Grangemouth before taking up the post of principal teacher of guidance at Grangemouth High School, until retiring two years ago.
It was after he retired that Mr Rougvie become involved with local politics full time.
Councillor Rougvie is survived by three daughters and two granddaughters.
Leader of the administration, Councillor Anne McGovern said: "David was a hard-working local politician and a good friend. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
Fellow councillors Kay Morrison and Bill Kay joined the tributes.
In a joint statement, they said: "We were shocked to hear of David's death. His loss will create a big void in the local community where he was a tireless worker for his constituents. We will all miss him very much."
Town MSP Christine May said: "David's sudden death is a great shock to me and my colleagues in the constituency.
"He was a fine councillor and gave his all to his beloved Markinch and Woodside. His service to the Labour party and to community politics in Central Fife goes back many years and I was lucky to have his knowledge and experience over the last two years as my parliamentary assistant.
"My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very sad time."
Glenrothes SNP MSP, Tricia Marwick, added: "I'm deeply saddened by the death of David Rougvie. I spoke to him only two weeks ago. I had known him for over 20 years since I first joined the SNP and he was always kind and courteous. My thoughts and best wishes go to his family and friends."
"IT IS hard to come to terms with the loss of a close friend and colleague of so many years. It is doubly difficult when the loss is so sudden.
"Although David had not felt at his best for a number of months there was nothing to suggest that he was seriously ill. As he set off with his daughters for a holiday in Wales, a country he loved to visit, I thought that he would return with even more energy than normal. It was not to be.
David was my election agent from 2001, as he had been to my predecessors in this area, Willie Hamilton and Henry McLeish.
Always modest about his organisational abilities, David knew this area like the back of his hand. His understanding of 'Labour people' was second to none and he, more than anyone else, knew 'how to get the Labour vote out'.
Even after the election of 2005 David was reluctant to be recognised as the man behind Labour's campaign in our constituency. He seemed almost embarrassed when I asked him to step forward to receive a small token of my appreciation at an event organised to celebrate the election victory. It is difficult to imagine any election campaign in central Fife without his involvement.
Outwith his involvement in the Labour Party, David was a working class lad who believed in the merits of education. Not content with succeeding as a toolmaker, David decided to fulfil an ambition of entering the teaching profession.
Years of study at Dundee University were rewarded with a Master of Arts degree and a qualification to teach history and modern studies. David was rapidly promoted to the post of principal teacher of guidance at Grangemouth High School where he served for a number of years before taking retirement in 2004.
He believed that the changes that were taking place under the McCrone Agreement were not for him and that his talents would best be deployed in his local community. David seemed to be thriving in his dual role as councillor for his home area of Markinch and in his work for our MSP, Christine May.
I have lost a valued friend and our community has lost a tireless campaigner for the social justice that was so close to his heart.
My thoughts are with David's father, daughters and granddaughters.
John MacDougall MP
*David died whilst on holiday with his youngest daughter.
He always gave so much time to his family, especially Alannah.
David was a tremendously har-working councillor and was delighted when elected and re-elected to represent the town of Markinch.
Joyce Smith commented: "I was proud to work with David for over 30 years in party and council. As well as being a relation, David was a tireless committed Socialist. If all had been fair, he would have been a Westminster candidate 20 years ago.
"David strived on behalf of the people of Fife without seeking high profile. He did the work, but was never a self-promoter. I will miss him both as a friend and a valuable colleague."
Jim Levack said: "We should remember David was the youngest ever councillor on Glenrothes Development Corporation. He was involved in matters of Fife-wide concern and not just politics.
We should strive to create and annual event in his memory."
Leven Valley, Kennoway Branch Labour Party
THE by-election for Markinch and Woodside East Ward, will take place on Thursday, 28th September 2006.
The by-election follows the death of the ward's councillor, David Rougvie.
Polling Stations will be:-
Carleton Nursery School, Glenrothes and the Town Hall, Betson Street, Markinch.Ê The polls will be open from 8.00 am and close at 9.00 pm.
The last date to apply for a postal or proxy vote is 5 pm on Wednesday, 20th September.Ê
Nomination papers will be available from Thursday, 24th August 2006 and must be returned by 4.00 pm on Wednesday, 6th September 2006 to Doreen Sim, Elections Administrator, Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes KY7 5LT (01592) 416301.
A LOCAL by-election could be one of the most historic and important held in Fife in recent years.
Political activists believe the outcome of the vote in Markinch and Woodside East might provide a crucial pointer to the results of next year's Scottish Parliament and Fife Council ballots..
And they are convinced that local factors - including the future of Fife Institute and the controversial switch to once-a-fortnight bin collections - could play a huge part in influencing where electors place their crosses on September 28.
Controversial housing plans for Markinch and the development of the town's railway station are also likely to feature, along with regular issues such as anti-social behaviour..
The by-election has been caused by the death, last month, of sitting Labour councillor David Rougvie..
He had held the seat since it was created in its current form in 1999 and turned what was a closely-contested vote into a convincing victory four years later..
Although the parties haven't officially revealed their candidates, it's believed that retired minister and former Markinch Community Council chairman, Ivor Gibson, will represent Labour and the Scottish National Party banner will be carried by John Beare, a research assistant for MSP Tricia Marwick..
It's also understood that a number of independents are also considering their options, including one who may campaign for the return of weekly bin collections..
The Community Action Group, which is fighting any plans to close Fife Institute, will not be standing a candidate, but is organising a hustings to which all candidates will be invited, details of which are still to be confirmed..
The by-election is likely to be the last held in Fife under the current first-past-the-post electoral system, which will be replaced by proportional representation for next May's full Fife Council vote..
Carleton Nursery School, Glenrothes, and Markinch Town Hall, Betson Street, will be the polling stations for the election and will be open from 8 a.m. 9 p.m..
The deadline for proxy, or postal votes is September 20.
Nominations opened on Thursday and must be returned by 4 p.m. on September 6.
The Markinch and Woodside East vote will be held on September 28.
It was prompted by the death, earlier this summer, of the sitting councillor, Labour's David Rougvie.
Bidding to hold the seat will be Ivor Gibson, a retired Church of Scotland minister. He is also a former religious education teacher at Glenwood High School and an ex-Markinch Community Council chairman.
The Liberal Democrat banner will be carried by Bob Forrest, who served on the old Fife Regional Council. A retired investment manager, he is also a graduate of St Andrews and Strathclyde Universities.
John Beare, a research assistant to MSP Tricia Marwick, will be the Scottish National Party candidate.
It is also understood that a number of independents are considering standing.
The by-election is set to be one of the most historic and important held in Fife in recent years.
Political activists believe the outcome could prove a crucial pointer to their fortunes in next May's full Fife Council and Scottish Parliament polls.
The by-election is likely to be the last held in the region under the first-past-the-post system, before it is replaced by proportional representation.
The deadline for proxy, or postal votes is September 20, while candidate nominations must be returned by next Tuesday.
Fife Council today announced the list of nominations for the forthcoming Markinch and Woodside East by-election.
They are:
John D. Beare, 2 Balbirnie Craft Centre, Markinch.
(Scottish National Party (SNP))
Bob Forrest, 72 Cash Feus, Strathmiglo.
(Scottish Liberal Democrats)
Ivor Gibson, 15 McInnes Road, Markinch.
(Scottish Labour Party Candidate)
Alexander Lawson, 1 Holyrood Avenue, Glenrothes.
(Independent)
David R. Mole, 78 Springbank, Kennoway.
(Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Candidate)
For more information contact
Doreen Sim, Elections Administrator
Tel: 01592 416301 Fax: 01592 413807,700 3807 Contact Doreen Sim online
By Post: Fife Council, Fife House , North Street , Glenrothes , KY7 5LT
In a pre-emptive move ahead of Gordon Brown's attack on the SNP due to take place on Friday lunchtime in Edinburgh, SNP Leader Alex Salmond will round on the panic stricken Chancellor, describing his latest outburst as a 'panic attack' brought on by Labour's leadership difficulties.
Mr Salmond's comments came as he made a tour of Markinch, Fife, as part of the SNP's local by-election campaign. The election is set to be held on the 28th September.
The SNP have now won half the Scottish council by-elections since the last year's General Election, with a swing to the party of around nine percent nationally.
Speaking from Markinch, Mr Salmond will say:
"Last Friday Tony Blair came to Scotland to attack the SNP, this week Brown is attempting the same job. The only person that doesn't seem to be getting a look-in is the Labour politician who is supposed to be standing against me to be First Minister of Scotland next year, Mr McConnell.
"It seems that the only thing that Brown and Blair actually agree on is that McConnell is not up to the job of fighting the SNP on his own, and that he needs as much help as he can get.
"Brown's latest outburst is even dafter than his previous suggestions that all families should fly the Union Jack in their gardens and that Paul Gasgoine's goal against Scotland in Euro 96 was his favourite football moment!
"His bizarre comments on Scots who come from England is the sign of a politician fast losing the plot. His newly discovered Britishness is about him becoming British Prime Minister not about the feelings of the people of Scotland or England.
"New Scots from England are perfectly comfortable with their nationality, which is why so many plan to vote for Independence and the SNP next year. They understand that in the new Europe there is freedom of association throughout the entire continent, never mind between England and Scotland.
"Is Brown really proposing that because there are many Irish people in England that the Irish Republic should move back under London control, or because many Scots have relatives in Canada and Australia that we should be governed by Canberra or Ottawa?
"This is sad and desperate stuff from Brown, but of course these are desperate times for the Labour party, riven and rent asunder by the arm wrestling between prime minister and chancellor for the keys to 10 Downing Street.
"The truth is that Brown has never distanced himself from any part of the Blair project, not the bloody or unnecessary war in Iraq, not the privatisation of the NHS through PFI, and not the obsession with nuclear weapons and power. They are the peas in the new Labour pod.
"All the discredited policies which have laid Blair so low are part of Brown's own agenda. He makes his attempt to become Labour leader carrying substantial baggage. Indeed the Chancellor may have passed his sell-by date, even before he has grabbed the glittering prize.
"While Brown and Blair obsess about their own future job prospects, the SNP will concentrate on the future of all of the people of Scotland. That is why both of them have good reason for panic about the reality of the SNP challenge to Labour hegemony in Scotland."
Markinch and Woodside East go to the polls on September 28.
THE RACE for a seat on Fife Council began in earnest last week when the nominations deadline passed.
And there were five candidates in the running when the nominations for the Markinch and Woodside East by-election closed at 4 p.m on Wednesday afternoon.
The vote, which will be held on September 28, was prompted by the death of Labour's councillor David Rougvie earlier this summer.
Bidding to hold the seat will be John Beare the Scottish National Party candidate.
Retired Church of Scotland minister Ivor Gibson will be carrying the banner for the Labour party.
The Liberal Democrat candidate is Bob Forrest.
Dave Mole has been selected to represent the Conservatives.
And there is an independent candidate in Alex Lawson.
WITH D-day approaching for the Markinch and Woodside East by-election candidates, The Gazette has tried to find out what they would do for their constituents.
We asked each of the five candidates for their views on some of what they consider the burning issues concerning you, the voters, in a bid to help you decide who will get your vote on September 28.
Many issues have been covered by Gazette reporter Fiona Purnell who spoke to all five candidates.
Crime, Fife Institute and recycling are just some of the many things that candidates are campaigning about.
To read the views of the five candidates - John Beare, SNP; Bob Forrest, Liberal Democrats; Ivor Gibson, Labour; Alex Lawson, Independent; Dave Mole, Conservative - in this week's Glenrothes Gazette, out now only 32 pence.
Local Government By-Election
Thursday 28 September 2006
Results for electoral ward 52 - Markinch and Woodside East
Ê
John D Beare, Scottish National Party (SNP)
892
Bob Forrest, Scottish Liberal Democrats
257
Ivor Gibson, Scottish Labour Party
388
Alexander Lawson, Independent
25
David Mole, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
39
Total Ballot Papers Allocated
1601
Total electorate
3693
Percentage Poll
43.41%
For more information contact
Ronnie Hinds, Chief Executive
Tel: 01592 413999 Fax: 01592 413990 Contact Ronnie Hinds online
By Post: Fife House , North Street , Glenrothes , KY7 5LT
The SNP have romped to victory in the Markinch and Woodside
by-election in Fife with an astounding victory over Labour. Cllr John
Beare has become the SNP's latest elected representative following
his victory in the Fife Council ward. Labour crashed to defeat by a
margin of 504 votes in their latest setback in Scotland, in a seat
where they previously gained over 58 percent of the vote.
The election was the first in Scotland where voters could express
their views on the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.
John Beare triumphed in Markinch and Woodside East, where the SNP
came from second place in the ward from its 2003 result to increase
its vote by 29.6 percent to 55.7 percent, a swing of 30 percent from
Labour to the SNP.
The SNP has now won half of the 20 Scottish council by-elections
since the general election.
Commenting on the result local Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Tricia Marwick said:
"This superb victory for John Beare and the SNP underlines the huge
strides we have made as a party over the last year.
"This is a significant swing to the SNP from Labour in what is
Brown's backyard. It highlights the gains the SNP are making across
Scotland, while the Labour Party are haemorrhaging votes and seats.
"Since the 2005 General Election the SNP has now won half the local
by-elections in Scotland, taking seats from the Labour Party in what
used to be some of their supposed strongholds.
"The message to Labour from across Scotland is clear; they are sick
of Labour's complacency and they want the SNP to take their
communities and Scotland forward.
"2007 is established now as a two-horse race between the SNP and
Labour with the SNP preparing for Government with Alex Salmond as
First Minister.
"John and his local team have worked extremely hard to win, and he
will work just as hard to represent local people on Fife Council.
He's a great addition to the SNP's team as we build to win the 2007
election."
Cllr John Beare added:
"I'd like to thank everyone in Markinch and Woodside who has placed
their trust in me at the ballot box. I'd also like to thank the
members of my campaign team who have worked so hard on my behalf.
"I promise them that I will continue to campaign for the changes
needed this area, and to ensure that their voices are heard in the
local council."
FULL RESULT
PARTY VOTE %
SNP 892 55.7%
Labour 388 24.2%
LibDem 257 16.0%
Tory 39 2.4%
Ind 25 1.5%
2003 Result (By-Election)
PARTY VOTE %
Labour 1,074 58.2%
SNP 545 29.6%
Tory 121 6.6%
LibDem 104 5.6%
Labour was rocked by a landslide by-election defeat uncomfortably close to Chancellor Gordon Brown's political homebase.
The Scottish National Party's John Beare won Fife Council's Markinch and Woodside East seat on a 30% swing since May 2003.
The ward comes under Glenrothes' Westminster constituency, next door to Mr Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.
However, there was some good news for Labour in its conference week when its candidate, Christine Gill, gained from the Liberal Democrats at Cribden, Rossendale Borough, Lancashire.
Commenting on the Scottish result, Scotland Mid and Fife SNP MSP Tricia Marwick said: "This is a significant swing to the SNP from Labour in what is Brown's backyard. It highlights the gains the SNP are making across Scotland while the Labour Party are haemorrhaging in votes and seats."
She added that next May's Holyrood polls were set to be "a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour with the SNP preparing for government with Alex Salmond as First Minister".
Earlier this year, the Liberal Democrats gained in a Commons by-election at Dunfermline and Fife West, which is also next door to Mr Brown's constituency.
The Labour party suffered a byelection defeat in Gordon Brown's "backyard" yesterday.
The Scottish National party's John Beare won Fife council's Markinch and Woodside East seat on a 30% swing from the May 2003 result.
The ward comes under the Westminster constituency of Glenrothes, next door to Mr Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat.
However, there was some good news for Labour at the end of its conference week when the party's candidate, Christine Gill, took a seat from the Liberal Democrats at Cribden, Rossendale Borough, Lancashire.
Commenting on the Scottish result, the SNP MSP for Scotland Mid and Fife, Tricia Marwick said: "This is a significant swing to the SNP from Labour in what is Brown's backyard.
"It highlights the gains the SNP are making across Scotland while the Labour party are haemorrhaging... votes and seats," Ms Marwick said.
She predicted that next May's general election for the Scottish parliament would be "a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour with the SNP preparing for government with Alex Salmond as first minister".
Earlier this year, the Liberal Democrats gained in a Commons byelection at Dunfermline and Fife West, which is also next door to Mr Brown's constituency.
But there was little cheer for the Tories, who were defeated in one of their safest seats in the country.
Julie Slater, daughter of the previous councillor, stood as an independent and won at East Rural, Blackburn with Darwen Borough.
However, the Conservatives - about to begin their party conference in Bournemouth - retained the Rossett seat at Wrexham county borough, north Wales.
The previous councillor had been elected with no party description on the ballot paper, but later joined the Conservative group.
There was a swing towards Labour at Nottinghamshire county council's Mansfield East division, where the previous poll had been on the same date as the last general election.
Labour held on to the seat.
At Rossendale, Liberal Democrats were defending a seat they won in 2003.
In the latest poll in the ward, in 2004, there was a straight fight between Tory and Labour.
Results
Blackburn with Darwen - East Rural: Ind 209, Con 201, England First party 99, Lib Dem 91, Lab 75, BNP 70. (May 2006 - Con 699, Lab 47). Ind gain from Con. Swing 35.3% Con to Lab.
East Hampshire District - Whitehill Deadwater: Lib Dem 214, Con 93, Lab 24. (May 2003 - Lib Dem 247, C 158). Lib Dem hold. Swing 7.3% Con to Lib Dem.
Fife Council - Markinch and Woodside East: SNP 892, Lab 388, Lib Dem 257, Con 39, Ind 25. (May 2003 - Lab 1074, SNP 545, C 121, Lib Dem 104). SNP gain from Lab. Swing 30% Lab to SNP.
Gateshead Borough - Dunstan and Teams: Lab 694, Lib Dem 269, BNP 226, Con 76. (May 2006 - Lab 984, Lib Dem 321, BNP 242, C 162, Ind 104). Lab hold. Swing 1.5% Lab to Lib Dem.
North Tyneside Borough - Benton: Con 1,359, Lab 1,191, Lib Dem 210. (May 2006 - Con 1,601, Lab 1,285, Lib Dem 542). Con hold. Swing 1.6% C to Lab.
Nottinghamshire County - Mansfield East: Lab 1,228, Con 628, Ind 620, Lib Dem 544, Green 217. (May 2005 - Two seats Lab 3,997, 2,854, Ind 2,461, Con 2,132, Lib Dem 1,976, Con 1,828, Green 1,019). Lab hold. Swing 2.6% Con to Lab.
Rossendale Borough - Cribden: Lab 391, Lib Dem 312, Con 186, BNP 89. (June 2004 - Con 681, Lab 585). Lab gain from Lib Dem. Swing 14.3% Con to Lab.
Wrexham County Borough - Rossett: Con 413, Lib Dem 378, Lab 251. (June 2004 - No description 384, Lab 334, Lib Dem 328). Con hold. Swing 6.3% Lab to Lib Dem.
Analysis of 12 comparable results this month projects a 5.4% nationwide Tory lead over Labour.
The relatively low figure is partly explained by the huge Conservative slump at Blackburn with Darwen, although there were net swings from Tory to Labour in four other wards this week.
A calculation based on nine wards fought by all three major parties both times - not including the Blackburn contest - puts party support at Con 41.4%, Lab 27.6%, Lib Dem 25.1%.
SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP today hailed the SNP's victory in the local by-election in Markinch & Woodside East as further evidence of the party's increasing momentum as we move towards next year's Scottish Parliament elections.
The stunning result in Fife was the SNP's tenth win in twenty local by-elections since last year's General election, and supports wider polling evidence that the SNP are the only party who can beat Labour next year.
Speaking at a news conference in Edinburgh, where he was joined by newly elected Councillor John Beare, Mr Salmond said:
"This astounding result firmly places the SNP in the driving seat for next year's election. The magnitude of the victory is further underlined by the fact that this took place on the last day of the Labour Party's conference and in Chancellor Gordon Brown's backyard Ð the ward lies in the constituency neighbouring Gordon Brown's.
"For the SNP to make such significant and substantial inroads in an area which was once a Labour stronghold is a tremendous result, not only because of the tremendous work undertaken locally by John Beare and Tricia Marwick MSP, but because the SNP is steadily gaining momentum as we build to next year.
"When given the choice, voters are deserting Labour and getting behind the SNP's agenda for progress for Scotland. They know that only the SNP can replace Labour next year as the largest party in Holyrood, and form a government that will stand up for all of Scotland."
Speaking at his first press conference, Cllr John Beare said:
"I'm delighted that the people of Markinch have placed their trust in both the SNP and I. People feel let down by Labour, and now feel that it's time for change. That's why I achieved this victory last night, and why the SNP are set for victory at a national level next year.
"Voters know that SNP councillors will work hard for their communities, while nationally they want Alex Salmond as Fist Minister to work in their best interests there. This result is further evidence that only the SNP can beat Labour next year."
| CANDIDATE | PARTY | VOTE | % |
| John Beare | SNP | 892 | 55.7% |
| I Gibson | Labour | 388 | 24.2% |
| B Forrest | Lib Dem | 257 | 16.0% |
| D Mole | Tory | 39 | 2.4% |
| A Lawson | Independent | 25 | 1.5% |
| PARTY | VOTE | % |
| Labour | 1,074 | 58.2% |
| SNP | 545 | 29.6% |
| Tory | 121 | 6.6% |
| Lib Dem | 104 | 5.6% |
| PARTY | 2005/06 Vote |
2003 Vote |
2005/06 % |
2003 % |
% Change |
Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | 9,563 | 9,034 | 33.15% | 25.80% | + 7.34% | 10 |
| Labour | 7,519 | 13,294 | 26.06% | 37.97% | - 11.91% | 3 |
| Tory | 4,947 | 5,501 | 17.15% | 15.71% | 1.43% | 4 |
| LibDem | 3,451 | 2,399 | 11.96% | 6.85% | 5.11% | 2 |
| SSP | 483 | 1,398 | 1.67% | 3.99% | - 2.32% | 0 |
| Ind | 2,714 | 3,386 | 9.41% | 9.67% | -0.26% | 1 |
| Green | 175 | 0 | 0.61% | 0.00% | 0.61% | 0 |
Of the 20 Council by-elections only two were held by the SNP prior to the by-elections. The SNP have won 10.
Markinch & Woodside East, Fife Council (By-election: 28th September 2006): Previously held by Labour with over 50% of the vote the seat is right in the back yard of Chancellor Gordon Brown's supposed heartland. It was also held in the week of Labour's UK conference. It was won by the SNP with 30% swing from Labour and over 55% of the vote.
Dumbarton West (By-election: 16 June 2006): Held by Labour with over 60% of the vote in 2003 and a safe seat. A previous by-election was held in March 2005 when Labour held the seat with 50%. It was taken by the SNP with a 13.35% swing from Labour.
Borestone, Stirling Council (By-election: 30 March 2006): Held by Labour with over 50% of the vote and described as a safe seat. The seat is in the Westminster constituency of Labour's Work & Pensions Minister Anne McGuire. It was taken by the SNP with a 16.35% swing from Labour.
Milton, Glasgow Council (By-election: 16th February 2006): Previously held by Labour with over 50%. Milton is in the Scottish parliament constituency of Maryhill which is currently held by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson. It was won by the SNP with 14.85% swing from Labour and nearly 50% of the vote.
Loanhead, Midlothian Council (By-election: 10 November 2005): Labour's ex-Council Leader previously held the seat for 17 years until narrowly losing it by 12 votes in 2003 to an independent. He stood again in the 2005 by-election but was beaten by the SNP who increased their vote from 16.1% to 45.4% - a 22.25% swing from Labour to the SNP. It is in the Midlothian Scottish Parliament constituency currently held by Rhona Brankin, the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development.
Auchtertool & Burntisland East, Fife Council (By-election: 29 September 2005): This seat had been held by John MacDougall before he became MP for Fife Central. It is also in the current Westminster constituency of Chancellor Gordon Brown. Previously it was taken by a LibDem in the by-election following John MacDougall's resignation. The SNP vote increased by 22% from 2003.
Herbertshire, Falkirk Council (By-election: 11 August 2005): Herbertshire is in the Falkirk Westminster parliamentary constituency currently held by Labour's Eric Joyce. The SNP took the seat in a ward they had never held before and with a long tradition of voting Labour. The SNP vote increased by 27% to 62.6%. In 1999 Labour's vote was 68.2%.
SNP leader Alex Salmond claimed the nationalists are in the driving seat for next year's Holyrood elections after a by-election win on Chancellor Gordon Brown's doorstep.
John Beare enjoyed a 30% swing from Labour to win the Markinch and Woodside East seat on Fife Council.
It comes after the Lib Dems pulled off a shock victory in the nearby Dunfermline and West Fife by-election in February, when candidate Willie Rennie overturned a Labour majority of more than 11,000 to triumph.
LABOUR SUFFERED a stunning defeat in central Fife last night after SNP candidate John Beare was elected councillor for Markinch and Woodside East.
Mr Beare, a constituency advisor to MSP Tricia Marwick, polled 892 votes to take over the seat which was left vacant by the death of Labour councillor David Rougvie in July.
Labour candidate Ivor Gibson, who gained 388 votes, was beaten into second place.
Liberal Democrat hopeful Bob Forrest received 257 votes, ahead of Conservative candidate David Mole who registered 39 votes, while local man Alexander Lawson, who stood as an Independent candidate, polled 25 votes.
The result is likely to send shockwaves throughout Fife's political climate as it may provide a strong indicator of what could happen at next year's Fife Council and Scottish Parliamentary elections.
Mr Gibson, who is also a former chairman of Markinch Community Council, had been strong favourite to retain the seat for Labour as the Markinch and Woodside East ward lies in the Glenrothes Westminster and Central Fife Scottish parliamentary constituencies, both held by the party.
At the last election in 2003, Labour polled 1074 votes - a result which increased the party's majority from 321 votes in 1999 to 529 four years later.
However, the massive swing to the Scottish National Party took almost everyone by surprise -apart from the SNP campaigners who had been quietly confident of success throughout their campaign.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Ms Marwick said last night, 'I'm absolutely ecstatic and it was a fabulous campaign run by a first class candidate and superb campaign team.
'The communities of Markinch and Woodside spoke-they are fed up with the neglect of the Labour Party and the voters have demonstrated this in their numbers.
'It's a truly historic victory-we have never won in Markinch, we have never won in Woodside, but we have won in every single area tonight,' she added.
'Labour have completely haemorrhaged votes and this will not only send shockwaves through the Labour Party in Fife but also the Labour Party in Scotland.'
The turnout for yesterday's election, which could be the last held in Fife under the first-past-the-post system, was 43.41% out of a total electorate of 3693.
Mr Beare had been runner-up to Mr Rougvie at the last poll in 2003.
ALEX Salmond, leader of the SNP, yesterday claimed his party will win next year's Holyrood elections after a by-election victory on Chancellor Gordon Brown's doorstep.
John Beare enjoyed a 30 per cent swing from Labour to win the Markinch and Woodside East seat on Fife Council on Thursday.
THE result of a local by-election will send "shockwaves" through politics in Scotland, it has been claimed.
The Scottish National Party took Markinch and Woodside East last Thursday, overturning a Labour majority of 529 votes to win by 504.
Winning candidate, John Beare, was jubilant at the result.
He said: "I'll be honest, there's a balance between this win being a huge joy and humbling.
"It's a huge joy in the fact that we won and it's humbling when both people that you know and have worked with in Markinch and Woodside over the last 10 years, through numerous organisations, and other members of the public in the area, place their trust in you.
"There's a huge amount of work to do in Markinch and Woodside, as well as in Glenrothes generally, so now it's time to get on with the challenge"
The people of Fife have had Tony Blair's wars but not Gordon's great economic miracle. They are ready for independence.
Sometime in the 1890s four young men - HH Asquith, RB Haldane, Augustine Birrell, Ronald Munro-Ferguson - climbed Raith Hill, behind Kirkcaldy, and gazed out over the Forth. "Is it not an intriguing thought," said Birrell, "that there is not an acre of this vast and varied landscape, that is not represented at Westminster by a London barrister."
London barrister MPs are history, like the Liberal party's complete domination of Scottish politics in 1906. My hunch - and this isn't a party statement - is that the Anglo-Scottish union will soon join them. I find Braveheart a comic masterpiece, and cringe at Flower of Scotland, but I'm now determined to accelerate this process. Comment is free has completed my conversion. Think about the blogtime expended over the last month on the Labour leadership, then go back to Bernard Shaw on Fabianism, Richard Crossman's The Charm of Politics, anything by Raymond Williams or EP Thompson. You - not we - have a political culture half-dead at the top.
The MP for Kirkcaldy is Gordon Brown. "Dullness visible" would alas sum up his collected speeches. Kirkcaldy's MSP, the house-elf who does the hoovering for him on local issues, is Marilyn Livingstone. I am the man in the black hat, riding into town on my bus pass. It's 1966 since I stood for Edinburgh council, and my old ward of Cramond is visible across the Firth. I can do the local business, as 40 years counselling Edinburgh, Open University and German students gives you skills that you can use in constituency affairs - and I can throw in German local authority experience as a Social Democrat council candidate in Tübingen.
But my main reason for wanting to get into the Scottish parliament is the brooding massif of Broon. The man has converted me from a federalist into someone who believes that independence can't come soon enough. Gordon and I go back. We wrote a pamphlet, The Scottish Assembly and why you should vote for it, back in 1979, though thereafter our ways parted. I co-edited the centenary history of the Scottish Labour party in 1988, but left it a year later. Very few of my old comrades are, these days, active. There won't even be a Scottish Labour conference in election year 2007.
After a decade of New Labour dismay has turned to disgust - "Lilies that fester, smell far worse than weeds" - and in the last few weeks to a blackly comic Punch and Judy show. Without a scintilla of ideological difference between the two stars, they hit one another, shouted, screamed and waved babies about. Ultimately the Fifers saw that they had had Tony's wars but not Gordon's great economic miracle, and on September 27 swung to the SNP by 30% in a local election in next-door Markinch. The chancellor had already been dented by Labour's loss of the safe Dunfermline West seat in February. Now the turnout fell by 15%, with Labour dropping from 1074 to 388, and the Tories from 121 to 46 ...
All candidates delude themselves about their chances, even Tories contesting the Rhondda, but I have the sense of an endgame, where the 1997 mixture really goes sour: the "success" of retail à go-go, financed through ballooning house prices and bargains caused by cheap Chinese imports, the fiddled employment figures, the mass sell-off of British businesses, the neglect of boring things like training, planning, and infrastructure. The smoke and mirrors have cleared ...
What's the alternative to Brown? Is Scottish independence too drastic? The upside of the present situation of high oil prices means Scotland can use the weather-window of our North Sea resources to get the technology and training it needs to construct an eco-hi-tech future. It means partnerships with the advanced regions and small countries of western Europe. It means drawing on the talents of new Scots needed to balance an ageing population, and tackling the deep-seated problems of Scottish ill health, drugs and social breakdown.
I can suggest some ways out because I've worked for the government of Europe's major hi-tech region and for Germany's best economics faculty: "We can do everything except speak Hochdeutsch," as the slogan goes. The land isn't blameless - Baden-Württemberg flogs Mercs and Audis and Porsches to the rest of the world - but it builds high-speed trains and supertrams, and bikes and solar panels for its citizens.
The Scots can still do some things equally well - think offshore engineering, educational technology, the huge Edinburgh culture fest - but they need to deal direct with Europe to buy what they need and sell what they're good at. In this they get little help from New Labour's gravy train (Scottish Enterprise scarcely glances at Germany, let alone the rest of the continent) and even less from the Foreign Office and the British Council.
Scottish Nationalists used to be dismissed (by myself among others) as emotional. Things have changed. The Scots are being offered either Jack McConnell's terminally pawky "best wee country" nonsense or Blair-Brown's old imperial madness ... plus a new Trident, and new nukes. Somewhere young soldiers are being shot or blown up as part of Tony Blair's "blood price".
Look at the BBC on the global environment. I will be dead when global warming really gets us by the throat. Our children may want to be dead, since we are far along the motorway to Necropolis, as the Scots social thinker Patrick Geddes called an environment wrecked by over-urbanisation, pollution and environmental destruction. The world's poor may only be rehearsing our own fate.
I argued for long enough that it's time to win Scotland for a rational life in a saveable world, then I found myself confirmed by an strange image from the locality, while making a film about John Buchan. His father was minister in Dysart, and he set on the Kirkcaple shore the scene in Prester John where the Reverend John Laputa worships the gods of his old and new Africa. Starting as an adventure-story villain, by the end of the book Laputa has become the nemesis of Empire, the father of black Africa, dying with the words of Shakespeare's Antony on his lips: "Unarm, Eros, the long day's task is done. And we must sleep." Laputa's dreams remain our "unfinished business". Fair play to McConnell: his partnership with Malawi is a new departure, and better than Whitehall's intention to sell guns wherever it can. An independent Scotland, shorn of its "crown imperial", can make such gestures into reality.
THESE ARE heady days for the SNP as they gather in Perth today for their annual conference.
Leader Alex Salmond may not actually say it when he delivers his keynote speech on Friday, but the message will be clear - 'go back to your constituencies and prepare for government.'
With a little over six months to go until the Holyrood elections the Nationalists have much to be optimistic about.
They are neck-and-neck with Labour in the opinion polls, ahead in many.
More importantly they are winning elections in Labour heartlands.
The Markinch and Woodside East council by-election in Fife saw a swing to the SNP of 30%.
The result has shocked Labour to the core. This is Labour territory, next door to Gordon Brown's constituency, and the by-election was held in the middle of a Labour Party conference.
SNP activists chappin' the doors in the weeks up to the by-election detected what Nationalists say they are finding on doorsteps across the nation.
In traditional Labour territory voters are, in the words of one activist, 'scunnered.'
Little wonder then that at a time when many parties are seeing a decline in membership numbers, the army of SNP activists is growing.
Over the last 12 months membership is up by 11% to 12,246 from 10,962 last year, and up from 10,021 in 2004.
Mr Salmond says it is time for a change.
The conference catchline in Perth this week reflects that hope. It states simply, 'It's time.'
'The people of Scotland know it's time for a change, and only the SNP can deliver the fresh approach that people up and down our country are crying out for,' said Mr Salmond.
'Next May, voters across Scotland will have a simple choice to make about Scotland's future.
'They need to decide between the tired and washed out Labour Party who have run out of ideas and popular support, and the positive vision for our country proposed by the SNP.
'Scotland knows it's time for a change. This conference will help us to underline that it's time for an SNP government next May.'
The talk among delegates in the restaurants and pubs of the Fair City this week will not be of opposition, but of a Scottish Executive led by SNP ministers, of a Nationalist First Minister, of a referendum that will take the country on the road to the dream of Scottish independence.
And they will feel with some justification that the pieces are beginning to fall into place.
Multi-millionaire Kwik Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer announced at the weekend that he is giving the SNP £100,000 to allow them to compete 'on a level financial playing field' with their political opponents.
Significantly he is not a member of the SNP but wants to see a 'real open debate for the future of Scotland.'
Once laughable talk of Mr Salmond becoming First Minister is commonplace.
Next month he is off to talk to the head of the civil service in Scotland, John Elvidge, to make preparations for an SNP government.
'The SNP are working hard and preparing for government, putting forward our ideas on how to take Scotland forward,' said Mr Salmond.
'Next May we want to hit the ground running, which is why we are beginning talks next month with the civil service.'
No wonder then that Nationalists gather in Perth this week full of confidence, in the real belief that 2007 can be their year.
But there is the not insignificant matter of actually winning the election in May.
Mr Salmond has set a target of winning 20 new first-past-the-post seats and the SNP will need every one of them if they are to have any chance of forming an administration.
Winning a handful of council by-elections with massive swings is one thing, taking a crop of Labour strongholds is another altogether.
The voting system for the Scottish Parliament means that it is virtually impossible for any one party to get an overall majority.
That means the SNP, even if they do very well, will have to find a partner to form an Executive.
And while the Liberal Democrats have been happy to go into coalition with Labour twice and might well do so again, they have made it clear they will have no truck with a referendum on independence.
So, the SNP meet in Perth this week full of confidence and with their prospects brighter than at any time since devolution - but with an electoral mountain still to climb.
I am grateful to John Beare and Stuart Paterson for information concerning this election.
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