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Labour hopes for by-election boost from rate cut
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor06.11.08
LABOUR was hoping for a last-minute bounce in its Glenrothes by-election campaign as the drama of today's interest rate cut sank in.
The party had been braced for another humiliating defeat in Gordon Brown's backyard as the Scottish National Party looked poised to win.
But as voters went to the polls, the Bank of England's bold move was being seized on by Labour campaigners as proof of the Government's tough action to combat recession.
Their optimism replaced suggestions that the contest had been a "lost cause". Glenrothes is next door to Mr Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency and Labour won a 10,000 majority at the last election.
Failure to hold the seat would be a personal snub to the Prime Minister, who has broken with convention to campaign twice on the stump. His wife Sarah has also visited.
The SNP and the Conservatives believe a defeat would confirm public disaffection with Mr Brown and bring an abrupt end to the "Brown bounce" in the wake of the economic crisis.
But Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, has visited the constituency more than 10 times. Peter Grant, standing for the SNP, is the leader of the local council, Fife, and his party holds the corresponding seat in the Scottish Parliament.
Last night Mr Salmond declared he was as confident of victory as he was before his party's triumph in the Glasgow East by-election in July. But that was before today's 1.5 per cent rate cut. Labour candidate Lindsay Roy is headteacher of Mr Brown's former school and was casting his vote at a local primary school.
Businessman Harry Wills runs for the Liberal Democrats, and the Tory candidate is Maurice Golden, 28, an environmental campaign manager for Keep Scotland Beautiful, The by-election is taking place following the death of MP John MacDougall.
The most recent Commons by- election in the Fife area saw the Lib-Dems capture Dunfermline and West Fife in 2006, overturning a Labour majority of more than 11,000.
Reader views (10)
Well done Gordon. Put even more pressure on the banks, then tthe oil companies.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Oh its an independent bank is it.
- Dave Smith, Croydon
Bounce Back!!!! In the name of God, can Gordon Brown and his cronies do us all a favour and just leave! Enough is Enough!! They've destroyed any shred of any good that we had going on in Britain - Economy destroyed, schools, morale, pride etc etc - They were able to do it in America and it should be done now - The people who caused this mess should be kicked out - It's time for a change and a general election and a new look at the kind of people we want leading us from now on!
- Paul Goddard, los angeles USA
Payback time.
- P I Staker, London
Follow Obama - it's time for a change!
- Ian, London
Let's hope so eh.I wished I was eligible to vote SNP just to bang another nail in his coffin.
- Steve, London
The Scots are quite canny and know which side of their bread is buttered. Looks like Labour just hold on by their fingertips. Salmond really does need to watch his waistline otherwise he's in danger of rolling over.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
Bounce back? Nothing he does - not even claiming to be Obama's best mate - can change the fact that most people just want him OUT. As for his economic genius, did he not invite Alan Greenspan to be his guru? If I am not mistaken it was Greenspan who presided over the problems in the US, just as Gordon presided over the disaster we now have to face. Clunking fist does not impress anyone anymore. His appointment of Mandelson, just adds insult to injury.
- Dbr, London
With this defeat, I hope that Gordon will take the hint -- and go.
- Phil Jones, London UK
I feel confident that the scots are intelligent enough to understand who really caused the Broon and bust.
- Clarky, London
