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Labour victorious in Glenrothes Labour victorious in Glenrothes
(28 minutes later)
The Labour Party has held onto its Westminster seat in the Glenrothes by-election, but on a reduced majority.The Labour Party has held onto its Westminster seat in the Glenrothes by-election, but on a reduced majority.
They pulled through to win, with 19,946 votes to the SNP's 13,209, with a swing of almost 5% to the Nationalists.They pulled through to win, with 19,946 votes to the SNP's 13,209, with a swing of almost 5% to the Nationalists.
The by-election in the Fife constituency was held after the death of sitting Labour MP John MacDougall.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, followed by the Lib Dems. The turnout was 52.37%, compared with 56.1% in the 2005 General Election.The Tories came third with 1,381 votes, followed by the Lib Dems. The turnout was 52.37%, compared with 56.1% in the 2005 General Election.
A good night for Labour. A poor one for the SNP Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor Read Brian Taylor's blogBy-election result in fullIn quotes: Glenrothes reactionIn pictures: Glenrothes by-election Labour, which had a majority of 10,664 in 2005, held Glenrothes, which borders Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat, with a decreased majority of 6,737. A good night for Labour. A poor one for the SNP Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor Read Brian Taylor's blogBy-election result in fullIn quotes: Glenrothes reactionIn pictures: Glenrothes by-election Labour, which had a majority of 10,664 in 2005, held Glenrothes with a decreased majority of 6,737.
Labour's successful candidate, 59-year-old Lindsay Roy, paid tribute to the prime minister. The constituency borders the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat held by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who visited Glenrothes several times during the by-election campaign.
The Kirkcaldy High School rector added: "I pledge my support to the leader of this country. Labour's successful candidate Lindsay Roy, 59, paid tribute to the prime minister, while pledging to work with defeated SNP candidate Peter Grant, who is the leader of Fife Council.
Mr Roy, 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.""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."
SNP candidate Peter Grant, who failed to repeat the Nationalists' success in the Glasgow East by-election, which his party won from Labour in July, said: "We have seen the SNP vote in this constituency increase by almost 50% on what it was a few years ago." The 59-year-old 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.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has called on banks to pass the rate cut onto their borrowers.
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.
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
Mr Grant, the leader of Fife Council, added: "That is a magnificent result by any standards, without taking anything away from the achievement Labour have managed." But he said the SNP vote was possibly the party's biggest parliamentary vote in Fife.
"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."
Meanwhile, both the Tory candidate Maurice Golden Liberal Democrat candidate Harry Wills, who polled 947 votes, 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."
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."
A total of eight candidates contested Glenrothes, in which 36,219 constituents out of a possible 69,155 turned out to vote.A total of eight candidates contested Glenrothes, in which 36,219 constituents out of a possible 69,155 turned out to vote.
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.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.