7 Sep 2018
A Scottish Conservative victory in a Fife council by-election in Gordon Brown’s home patch proves Labour are a busted flush, the party have said.
Candidate Dave Coleman increased the share of the vote and will now become the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay ward’s second Scottish Conservative councillor.
It also means Labour have no councillor in that area, despite it being the stamping ground of former leader and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
It was also the seat vacated by Labour’s current deputy leader Lesley Laird.
The Scottish Conservative share of the vote increased, while that of Labour and the SNP fell, with Cllr Coleman securing 2309 first preference votes, far ahead of any of his rivals.
Scottish Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said:
“This is a devastating result for Labour, which shows they are a busted flush.
“This was the council seat vacated by the shadow Scottish secretary, and Scottish Labour deputy leader Lesley Laird, but still the Labour vote fell while the Conservatives increased.
“It reinforces the fact that, right across Scotland, it’s a straight fight between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP.
“Even in Labour’s heartlands, we are the only ones who can stand up to the nationalists and their relentless pursuit of breaking up Britain.
“It also means Gordon Brown has two Conservative councillors to call on now for any local issues he may have, but not a single Labour one.”
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