This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/scotland_politics/7557933.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
MP MacDougall dies after illness MP MacDougall dies after illness
(20 minutes later)
Scottish Labour MP John MacDougall has died after a long illness.Scottish Labour MP John MacDougall has died after a long illness.
The MP for the Fife town of Glenrothes had been battling Mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs, for some time.The MP for the Fife town of Glenrothes had been battling Mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs, for some time.
His death will trigger a by-election in the seat, which neighbours Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.His death will trigger a by-election in the seat, which neighbours Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.
Mr MacDougall, a former leader of Fife Council and a strong pro-European, was first elected to the Commons in 2001. Mr MacDougall, a former leader of Fife Council who was first elected to the Commons in 2001, was 60 when he died.
The married father-of-two, born in Dunfmerline in 1947, started his working life in the docks at Rosyth before union activism led him into politics. The Dunfermline-born married father-of-two had been a patient at the Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, where he was visited by Mr Brown on Monday.
The former boilermaker went on to lead Fife Council for nine years before taking over the Central Fife Westminster seat, held by Henry McLeish, who went on to become Scottish first minister. Mr MacDougall started his working life in the docks at Rosyth before union activism led him into politics.
Following boundary changes, Mr MacDougall stayed in parliament as MP for the new Glenrothes constituency, where his majority at the last election was more than 10,000. All our thoughts are with his family at this time Labour party spokesman
The former boilermaker lead Fife Council for nine years before taking over the Central Fife Westminster seat, held by Henry McLeish, who went on to become Scottish first minister.
Following boundary changes, Mr MacDougall stayed in parliament as MP for the new Glenrothes constituency, where his majority at the last election was 10,664.
Mr MacDougall was known for his extensive connections in the EU, having sat on the body which investigated financial irregularity in the European Community.Mr MacDougall was known for his extensive connections in the EU, having sat on the body which investigated financial irregularity in the European Community.
He also served as vice-president of the Assembly of the European Regions.He also served as vice-president of the Assembly of the European Regions.
Mr MacDougall, who had been fighting Mesothelioma for two years, never fully recovered from surgery last year and had been chronically ill. Mr MacDougall, who had been fighting Mesothelioma for two years, never fully recovered from surgery in London last year and had been chronically ill.
He has left behind his wife, Cathy and two children, Scott and Julie.He has left behind his wife, Cathy and two children, Scott and Julie.
A Labour Party spokesman said: "All our thoughts are with his family at this time."
The last by-election fought in Fife, in February 2006, saw the Liberal Democrats overturn a Labour majority of more than 11,500 to win the seat of Dunfermline and West Fife.
And in a by-election last month, the SNP won one of Labour's safest seats, Glasgow East.