A former SNP councillor has given his support to the Labour Party candidate ahead of next week’s crucial Glenrothes by-election.
Bill Brown, who resigned from the party in May, has said that he is backing Alan Seath for the ballot in Glenrothes West and Kinglassie next Thursday.
Mr Brown, who continues to work as an independent councillor for the ward, has opted to endorse Mr Seath and Labour ahead of the SNP’s Julie Ford, in what is expected to be a two-horse race for the seat.
With control of the town’s local area committee, the local decision making body for Glenrothes, up for grabs, the stakes for next week’s ballot could not be higher.
“I have known Alan for many years,” said Mr Brown.
“He is a family man with lots of experience in the council and other areas of business and industry.
“I could work with him and other councillors for the good of the ward and Fife in general (and) I am extremely happy to endorse Alan.”
Next Thursday’s by-election, the second in the ward this year, was prompted by the resignation of the town’s MP, Peter Grant, as a councillor following his election to Westminster in May.
At the turn of the year it was Labour who controlled the local area committee, though this was snatched by the SNP following the election of Craig Walker in March.
However, following the resignation of Mr Brown from the SNP, the committee has been finely balanced with five Labour and SNP councillors, and one independent.
Defending the seat for the SNP is Julie Ford, who has worked as a caseworker for Shona Robison, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for health.
“I am now the third generation of my family to live in Glenrothes,” she said.
“It is my home and I am passionate about the future of our town and making it a better place for us all.
“Many politicians talk too much while spending little time listening to the people who elect them.
“That is why my priority is to listen to the people in our communities and hear their concerns and hopes for our area.”
Other candidates in next week’s ballot are Lorna Ross for the Scottish Green Party, and Jonathan Gray, who has been selected to stand for the Scottish Conservatives.