I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned. The byelection was Feb 9 in Dunfermline and West Fife in Scotland necessitated by the passing of Labour M.P Rachel Squires.She had won the seat in 2005 by almost 12,000 votes receiving nearly 50% of the vote. The Liberal-Democrats though won the byelection by 1,800 votes. I didn't see any comments on the turnout, but it seemed high to me. In the general election, just over 40,000 people voted. In the byelection, over 30,000 people voted.
The Liberal Democrats increased their actual vote. This is supposedly a surprise because the Liberal Democrats are said to be down in the polls given their alleged leadership troubles.
The result was a major setback to Labour Party leader in waiting Gordon Brown who used to represent part of the riding prior to boundary changes. I gather he put himself on the line somewhat by asking people to vote for the Labour Party as a way to back him. I'm sure he is looking very closely at what happened to Paul Martin and how his sucsesership to Jean Chretien went.
The result was also a setback for the Conservatives who under their new leader have supposedly moved to the center and are ahead in the polls. Scotland has never been a stronghold for the Conservatives, though, so their terrible result probably won't be held against them in any big way.
The new M.P is Willie Rennie a communications consulting firm account director and a Libreral Democrat party executive.
Results
Lib Dem Willie Rennie 12,391
Labour Catherine Stihler 10,591
Scottish National Party Douglas Chapman 7,261
Conservative Carrie Ruxton 2,702
Others approximately 1,500
[ 11 February 2006: Message edited by: Adam T ]
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posted 11 February 2006 08:34 PM
