Liberal Democrats deliver hammer blow to Labour in Dunfermline

1.07.00pm GMT Fri 10th Feb 2006

The Liberal Democrats have won a sensational by-election in Dunfermline and West Fife. There was a massive swing from Labour of 16% to the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats turned a Labour majority of 11,562 into a Lib Dem majority of 1,800.

The result has stunned Labour and saw David Cameron's Conservative Party finish fourth in his first major electoral test since becoming leader. The result was the worst Parliamentary by-election result for the Conservative Party for 8 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."

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