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By-election registers go missing | By-election registers go missing |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The SNP has called for an inquiry after it emerged marked electoral registers for the Glenrothes by-election were lost by the courts. | The SNP has called for an inquiry after it emerged marked electoral registers for the Glenrothes by-election were lost by the courts. |
The registers, which are the only record of who voted in the Westminster election, must be kept for a year. | The registers, which are the only record of who voted in the Westminster election, must be kept for a year. |
Tricia Marwick, Nationalist MSP for Central Fife, said the blunder was "beyond belief". | Tricia Marwick, Nationalist MSP for Central Fife, said the blunder was "beyond belief". |
Labour comfortably saw off an SNP challenge to hold the Glenrothes seat, in Fife. | Labour comfortably saw off an SNP challenge to hold the Glenrothes seat, in Fife. |
The Scottish Court Service described the incident as "deeply regrettable". | |
Fife Council said it had a receipt proving the authority handed the electoral registers over to the sheriff clerk at Kirkcaldy. | |
The ballot papers were counted fair and square in front of the eyes of the world Scottish Labour spokesman Labour's Lindsay Roy held on to the seat with a majority of more than 6,000 in the by-election, which was held following the death of sitting MP John MacDougall. | |
Ms Marwick called for an independent inquiry, adding: "It is almost beyond belief that a by-election which attracted media coverage throughout the UK, which delivered such a surprise result and had a much higher turnout than anticipated, now has no records to show who actually voted." | Ms Marwick called for an independent inquiry, adding: "It is almost beyond belief that a by-election which attracted media coverage throughout the UK, which delivered such a surprise result and had a much higher turnout than anticipated, now has no records to show who actually voted." |
Scottish Labour backed calls for a probe into why "an SNP government department lost confidential personal data again". | |
A spokesman for the party added: "Lindsay Roy won the by-election because of the incompetence of the SNP locally and nationally. | |
"The ballot papers were counted fair and square in front of the eyes of the world." | |
A Scottish Court Service spokesman said the incident was being investigated. | |
He explained: "Despite comprehensive searches for this document we have been unable to locate the marked register requested within Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. | |
"We can confirm that the sheriff clerk at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court took receipt of these items following the Glenrothes by-election in November and that the voting papers for this election, which were deposited at the same time, are available." | "We can confirm that the sheriff clerk at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court took receipt of these items following the Glenrothes by-election in November and that the voting papers for this election, which were deposited at the same time, are available." |