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Labour victorious in Glenrothes Labour victorious in Glenrothes
(31 minutes later)
Labour has won the Glenrothes by-election, comfortably holding off a challenge from the SNP.Labour has won the Glenrothes by-election, comfortably holding off a challenge from the SNP.
Lindsay Roy was elected the new MP with a majority of 6,737 over the SNP's Peter Grant, although the Nationalists increased their vote by almost 4,500. Lindsay Roy was elected the new MP with a majority of 6,737 over the SNP's Peter Grant.
The by-election in the Fife constituency was held after the death of sitting Labour MP John MacDougall.
The Tories came third with 1,381 votes while the Lib Dems, who polled 947 votes, were squeezed to fourth.The Tories came third with 1,381 votes while the Lib Dems, who polled 947 votes, were squeezed to fourth.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said victory in the Fife seat was a vote of confidence in the government's handling of the economic crisis.
The by-election was held after the death of sitting Labour MP John MacDougall.
This is a substantial setback for Alex Salmond Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor Read Brian Taylor's blogBrown hails 'vote of confidence'Has the SNP bubble burst?In pictures: Glenrothes by-electionAnalysis: Tale of the unexpected The constituency borders the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat held by Mr Brown, who visited Glenrothes several times during the by-election campaign.
Despite Labour's majority in Glenrothes in the 2005 UK election being cut from 10,664, the party pulled through to win with 19,946 votes to the SNP's 13,209.Despite Labour's majority in Glenrothes in the 2005 UK election being cut from 10,664, the party pulled through to win with 19,946 votes to the SNP's 13,209.
This is a substantial setback for Alex Salmond Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/briantaylor/2008/11/honeymoon_ends.html">Read Brian Taylor's blog class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7715082.stm">Brown hails 'vote of confidence' class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7714699.stm">Has the SNP bubble burst? class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7714553.stm">In pictures: Glenrothes by-election class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7714700.stm">Analysis: Brown bounce? The new MP for Glenrothes praised Mr Brown.
The constituency borders the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat held by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who visited Glenrothes several times during the by-election campaign. Mr Roy, 59, who will quit as the rector of Kirkcaldy High School to take up his seat, said: "With Gordon Brown, Britain is strong. With Gordon Brown, Labour has won here in Glenrothes and central Fife."
Speaking on Friday morning, he hailed the victory as a vote of confidence in the government's handling of the economic crisis. The prime minister said: "What I have learned from this by-election is that people are prepared to support governments that will help people through the downturn and offer real help to people.
BBC Scotland's political editor, Brian Taylor, said it was a seriously good result for Labour and a significant setback for SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond. "They are less willing to support people who have no idea about how to solve the problems we have got."
"Nationalists hold the equivalent Holyrood seat - and are the leading party on Fife Council," he stated.
Mr Roy said he would work with Mr Grant, who is the leader of the local authority.
The new MP for Glenrothes went on to praise Mr Brown.
The 59-year-old, who will quit as the rector of Kirkcaldy High School for Westminster, said: "I pledge my support to the leader of this country.
"Someone who has worked very hard on behalf of all of us, not just in Fife, but in Scotland and the UK during these volatile economic times."
Mr Roy added: "With Gordon Brown, Britain is strong. With Gordon Brown, Labour has won here in Glenrothes and central Fife."
The Labour win came after the Bank of England's decision on Thursday to cut interest rates by 1.5%, an announcement which came as the polls in Glenrothes were open.The Labour win came after the Bank of England's decision on Thursday to cut interest rates by 1.5%, an announcement which came as the polls in Glenrothes were open.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has called on banks to pass the rate cut onto their borrowers. Mr Grant, the leader of Fife Council, failed to repeat the Nationalists' success in the Glasgow East by-election in July, where his party won what was then one of Labour's safest seats.
HAVE YOUR SAYFor once it isn't labour spin but the truth to call this a good victoryA Brown, EdinburghSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYFor once it isn't labour spin but the truth to call this a good victoryA Brown, EdinburghSend us your comments
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme he was not surprised that Labour had held the seat, and said the SNP's campaign had gone from "confidence into arrogance". He said: "We have seen the SNP vote in this constituency increase by almost 50% on what it was a few years ago."
He added: "It is a remarkable result nevertheless. It is the first time since the 1970s that Labour in a seat it has held has actually increased its share of the vote in a by-election so it is a historic night in that sense. Mr Grant stood by controversial home care charge increases brought in by his council, a big campaign issue.
"What is incredible is the SNP declared victory in this by-election on the day the by-election was called, and Alex Salmond visited the constituency perhaps a dozen times and declared that they were going to win - not that they could win, but that they would win." BBC Scotland political correspondent Brian Taylor said: "Labour attacked the Nationalists day and daily over claims that the SNP-led administration in Fife Council had cut home care services for the most vulnerable.
Mr Murphy said the decision by the prime minister to personally campaign in the constituency had played a major part in the victory, and claimed there was "great appreciation" for the work Mr Brown was doing in answering the "big and difficult economic questions". "In vain did the SNP protest that this was driven by externally imposed exigencies, that they were doing nothing different from several other councils (including Labour ones) and that they had increased the budget in key areas of expenditure."
Mr Grant failed to repeat the Nationalists' success in the Glasgow East by-election in July, where his party won what was then one of Labour's safest seats.
But he said the SNP vote was possibly the party's biggest parliamentary vote in Fife.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"We have seen the SNP vote in this constituency increase by almost 50% on what it was a few years ago," Mr Grant said.
"That is a magnificent result by any standards, without taking anything away from the achievement Labour have managed.
"It tells us we will continue to campaign, we will continue to stand up to any government that acts against the best interests of the people of Glenrothes."
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon conceded that the result was a "very disappointing" one for the SNP.Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon conceded that the result was a "very disappointing" one for the SNP.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We ran a very good campaign, we fought hard and had an excellent candidate, and we are very disappointed not to have won the seat. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We ran a very good campaign, we fought hard and had an excellent candidate, and we are very disappointed not to have won the seat."
"But let's look at the facts. We substantially cut Labour's majority, our vote went up by 13% since the vote in the last general election and we recorded a 5% swing against Labour so yes it is disappointing because we fight every election to win, but there was substantial progress for the SNP in this seat last night." FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
'Honeymoon is over'
Ms Sturgeon dismissed any suggestion the SNP had taken victory in the seat for granted, and accused Labour of running a "relentlessly negative" by-election campaign that focused on a single local issue, home care charges.Ms Sturgeon dismissed any suggestion the SNP had taken victory in the seat for granted, and accused Labour of running a "relentlessly negative" by-election campaign that focused on a single local issue, home care charges.
Meanwhile, both the Tory candidate Maurice Golden and Liberal Democrat candidate Harry Wills lost their deposits.Meanwhile, both the Tory candidate Maurice Golden and Liberal Democrat candidate Harry Wills lost their deposits.
"This was a victory for Lindsay Roy, not for Gordon Brown," said Mr Golden, adding: "The Alex Salmond bubble has well and truly burst.""This was a victory for Lindsay Roy, not for Gordon Brown," said Mr Golden, adding: "The Alex Salmond bubble has well and truly burst."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said: "Alex Salmond predicted the SNP would win - he got it spectacularly wrong.Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said: "Alex Salmond predicted the SNP would win - he got it spectacularly wrong.
"Scottish politics has changed - the honeymoon is over.""Scottish politics has changed - the honeymoon is over."
A total of eight candidates contested Glenrothes, in which 36,219 constituents out of a possible 69,155 turned out to vote - 52.3%, compared with 56.1% in the 2005 General Election.A total of eight candidates contested Glenrothes, in which 36,219 constituents out of a possible 69,155 turned out to vote - 52.3%, compared with 56.1% in the 2005 General Election.
Labour won Glenrothes in 2005 with 19,395 votes, followed by the Scottish National Party on 8,731, the Liberal Democrats on 4,728 and the Conservatives on 2,651.