The forgotten by-election
With the combined excitement of Bonfire Night and a sweeping change in American politics, we seem to have forgotten the probable done deal by-election in Scotland - Voters are going to the polls in Glenrothes to choose a new MP.
Labour is defending a majority of 10,664 in the Fife constituency which was made vacant by the death of John MacDougall in August.
The polls opened at 0700 GMT and will close at 2200 GMT. The result should be known by the early hours of Friday.
The turnout at the last election in 2005 was 56.1%. The seat borders Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.
Candidates:
- Morag Balfour, Scottish Socialists
- Maurice Golden, Conservative
- Peter Grant, SNP
- Lindsay Roy, Labour
- Kris Seunarine, UKIP
- Harry Wills, Liberal Democrats
- Louise McLeary, Solidarity
- Jim Parker, Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
Update (10:04 November, 7 2008):
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 the Nationalists increased their vote by almost 4,500.
"This is a substantial setback for Alex Salmond", Brian Taylor BBC Scotland political editor
4 comments:
I guess there are other priorities here in Wales.
Any indication on the mood
Personally, aside from the fact it’s been dwarfed by other events, I don’t think it will have the sting in the tail that it might have had a few months ago. The pressure on Brown has eased, the Tories at not at the races, and there is potentially more for Alex Salmond lose in the race.
I am not for one minute saying that it won’t be anything other than a disaster for Labour to lose it, just that its consequences might not be as far reaching as previously thought.
It was not forgotten on my blog: http://alanindyfed.blogspot.com
where it has been featured for several days.
Alan, apologies for the oversight, however comparing Obama's victory to the Glenrothes by-election seems to have no shortage of oversight on display.
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