Brown at Labour MP's funeral - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Brown at Labour MP's funeral

The funeral is taking place of Labour MP John MacDougall, who died last week after a long illness.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a long-standing friend of Mr MacDougall, is likely to attend the service in Fife.

The MP for Glenrothes died on Tuesday aged 60 after a two-year battle with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.

The funeral will take place in Burntisland, the Fife town which Mr MacDougall represented as a councillor.

His death has presented Labour with a difficult by-election, with the party defending a majority of 10,664 in a seat next door to Mr Brown's constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

Labour is still reeling from the loss of Glasgow East to the SNP.

Labour suffered a similar electoral disaster in Fife in February 2006 when Dunfermline and West Fife was captured by the Liberal Democrats.

News in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity