Sensational Victory in Scotland

7.40.10am GMT Fri 10th Feb 2006

Willie Rennie and the Liberal Democrats have won a sensational victory in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election. There was a massive swing of 16% from the Labour Party to the Liberal Democrats (and 9% from Conservative to Lib Dem), just nine months after the General Election. The Liberal Democrats turned a Labour majority of 11,562 into a Lib Dem majority of 1,800. This victory was the first ever Liberal Democrat gain from the Labour party in a Scottish by-election.

The result has stunned Labour and saw David Cameron's Conservative Party finish fourth in his first major electoral test since becoming Conservative leader. The result was the worst Conservative Parliamentary by-election result for eight years.

Willie Rennie, the Liberal Democrat victor said:

"I would like to thank the people of Dunfermline and West Fife for the trust that they have shown in me personally - and in the Liberal Democrats. Tonight they have sent a powerful message to the Labour Government. It is time that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both got that message."

Willie added:

"There are messages tonight for all the major parties. The Liberal Democrat message that we want a fairer, greener and more democratic society - is one that wins widespread appeal.

"Labour has lost the confidence of people who supported them for generations. People want a change - but they do not want to go back to the Conservatives. This by-election has shown that the Conservatives are irrelevant in much of Britain. This is a terrible result for David Cameron - the Conservatives continue to decline. This must be a deeply depressing night for the SNP's Alex Salmond following their decline at the General Election."

Before the result many commentators thought that the Liberal Democrats would be fighting to retain the second place that they narrowly gained over the SNP at the General Election.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have increased their vote in each of the last three General Elections and won 11 of the 59 seats in 2005. The SNP has lost support in each of the last three General Elections and fell to third place in votes and seats in 2005.