The North East Scotland By-election 1998

'Not for a generation has Scottish politics looked so much like a two-horse race.' Professor John Curtice, 25 th November 1998. 'Labour are the only party I know to come third in a two horse race.' Ian Hudghton MEP, 27 th November 1998.

North East Scotland European By-election

The Result

• The result - SNP increase majority, Labour vote collapses 27 th November 1998

• Labour humiliated as SNP holds Euro-seat 27 th November 1998

• Dramatic Fall in Labour vote 28 th November 1998

• Third place leaves Labour threatened 28 th November 1998

• London Calls For Report On Poll Fiasco 28 th November 1998

• Labour Comes Third As SNP Hold Euro Seat 28 th November 1998

• Defeat questions closed-list system 29 th November 1998

• Election 'disaster' leads to Labour rethink 29 th November 1998

• Dewar refuses to ease up on SNP 30 th November 1998

• Why Labour insiders blame Elder and Rowley 30 th November 1998

• MP brands Labour by-election campaign a shambles 2 nd December 1998

• Euro Landslide December 1998

• Yet another famous victory for Scotland December 1998

Letters to the Editor

• Voters not prepared to back Labour

Obituaries

• The late Dr Allan Macartney MEP

The Constituency

• Candidates and constituency Analysis

• Previous electoral results for North East Scotland

By-election commentary

• A battle without heat

News

• How the Nats won the North-east 14 th June 1994

• Blair breaks moratorium 28 th August 1998

• Labour under fire as European by-election comes to life 29 th October 1998

• Salmond claims Labour already loser 3 rd November 1998

• SNP claims Labour has thrown in the towel 3 rd November 1998

• Tory candidate calls for Sewel to be sacked 9 th November 1998

• Dewar fails to condemn 'racism' remark 11 th November 1998

• Europe clashes leave North-east voters cold 20 th November 1998

• By-election candidate regrets birth claim 23 rd November 1998

• Accident of birth forces more Labour apologies 23 rd November 1998

• Candidate conceives new line in Aberdeen nativity row 24 th November 1998

• Gloves off at last on North-east hustings 24 th November 1998

• ICM say SNP 4 % ahead of Labour 25 th November 1998

• Close battle in Euro poll 26 th November 1998

• Voters stay away in their droves 26 th November 1998