An SNP victory in a Fife Council by-election in former prime minister Gordon Brown’s constituency will “chill Labour to the core”, nationalists claim.
College lecturer Marie Penman was elected to Fife Council after winning the first local by-election in Scotland this year, with the local SNP vote up 16% and the Labour vote down by 12%.
She said it was a “huge privilege” to be voted in as the new councillor for Kirkcaldy East, which is part of Mr Brown’s Westminster constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.
The former prime minister, who played a pivotal role in the campaign to keep Scotland in the UK, has since announced he is stepping down from the House of Commons at May’s general election.
Labour will be fighting hard to retain his seat, as the number of Scottish MPs it secures will be crucial to Ed Miliband’s chances of getting into Downing Street.
But with the nationalists ahead of Labour in Scottish polls, Douglas Chapman, the SNP’s convener responsible for organisation, said: “This SNP victory in Gordon Brown’s backyard will chill Labour to the core across Scotland and shows how little trust people have left in the Labour Party.”
Mr Chapman, who is also an SNP councillor for Rosyth, added: “Marie will be a strong advocate for the people of Kirkcaldy East and is another strong woman who has won for the SNP.
“She will be a fantastic addition to the SNP council team in Fife.”
The result was an SNP hold as the party had won one of the ward’s three seats in the 2012 main Fife election but there was a swing of 12.8% from Labour to the nationalists.
The by-election was called following the resignation of former SNP councillor Arthur Morrison in October, who had been dubbed the “invisible councillor” due to the fact that he was rarely at council meetings.
Kirkcaldy was once a Labour Party bastion but Ms Penman secured 1,460 of the first preference votes, ahead of 1,088 for Labour.
Labour candidate Liz Easton, who finished second, would not be drawn on the wider political ramifications of the vote. Kirkcaldy East also has two sitting Labour councillors.
But Mrs Easton said she was “not surprised” at the result, as a combination of cold weather and post-referendum voter apathy on the doorsteps had taken its toll with a turnout of just 27.27%.
She said: “There were people turning up at the polling stations to drop their kids off at school and not bothering to vote.
“People seem to have had enough of it all. They couldn’t be bothered.
“I think it stems from the autumn’s events and all affected parties.
“I met some great people and will continue my interest in local politics.”
Mrs Penman said: “It is a huge privilege to be elected as the SNP councillor for Kirkcaldy East ward.
“I am delighted at the overwhelming support of the communities here and I pledge to repay their trust by working hard for this area over the coming months and years.
“There are a number of significant challenges facing the communities here and residents can rest assured that I will give nothing less than my absolute best in pursuit of a better future for this area.”
* The votes were Marie Penman (SNP) 1,460 votes; Liz Easton (Labour) 1,088 votes, Edgar Cook (Conservative) 223 votes; Clare Reid (Green Party) 126 votes; Peter Adams (Ukip) 117 votes; Calum Leslie (Lib Dem) 40 votes; Ronald Hunter (independent) 19 votes; and Alastair Macintyre (independent) 12 votes.
Picture by George McLuskie