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| Labour victorious in Glenrothes | Labour victorious in Glenrothes |
| (about 1 hour 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 there was a swing of almost 5% to the Nationalists. | Lindsay Roy was elected the new MP with a majority of 6,737 over the SNP's Peter Grant, although there was 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 while the Lib Dems, which polled 947 votes, were squeezed to fourth. | The Tories came third with 1,381 votes while the Lib Dems, which polled 947 votes, were squeezed to fourth. |
| 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. |
| 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 reactionHas the SNP bubble burst?In pictures: Glenrothes by-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 reactionHas the SNP bubble burst?In pictures: Glenrothes by-election |
| 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 constituency borders the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat held by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who visited Glenrothes several times during the by-election campaign. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "Nationalists hold the equivalent Holyrood seat - and are the leading party on Fife Council," he stated. | "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. | 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 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. | 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." | "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." | 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. | 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. | 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 comments | HAVE YOUR SAYFor once it isn't labour spin but the truth to call this a good victoryA Brown, EdinburghSend us your comments |
| But he said the SNP vote was possibly the party's biggest parliamentary vote in Fife. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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 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. | 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. |