Stephanie Dearden
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting
Tel: 020-7771-2551 or 07985649807
PRESS RELEASES
10th February 2006
Liberal Democrats defy expectations
At the start of this campaign, many political commentators thought that the Liberal Democrats would be fighting to retain the second place that they narrowly gained over the SNP in 2005 or even fighting to stay ahead of the Conservatives. The result was a sensational Liberal Democrat victory.
The result has proved that:
This was our 243rd most winnable constituency at the last election.
Last night, Liberal Democrats achieved a huge 16% swing against Labour enough to gain another 20 seats from Labour in Scotland alone. If this swing was repeated across Great Britain more than 200 Labour seats would fall to the Lib Dems.
The Conservatives lost even more support than their average drop in support in parliamentary by-elections since 1997. If this result was repeated across Great Britain, the Liberal Democrats would gain 40 seats from the Conservatives.
The SNP got absolutely nowhere having fallen behind the Liberal Democrats in both seats and votes at the 2005 General Election.
Labour have suffered a massive blow in the seat where Gordon Brown lives and in a campaign in which he featured most prominently.
Liberal Democrats are the real alternative to Labour in Scotland and in much of Great Britain.
This Lib Dem gain was our first ever gain from Labour in a Scottish parliamentary by-election.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have increased their vote in each of the last three General Elections and won 11 of the 59 seats in 2005.
The SNP has lost support in each of the last three General Elections and fell to third place in votes and seats in 2005.
The Conservatives were fourth in votes in Scotland in 2005 and have only one Scottish Westminster MP and he would lose his seat to the Liberal Democrats on this swing.
ENDS
Stephanie Dearden
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting
Notes to editors:
Willie Rennie 12,391 35.8% +15.6
Labour 10,591 30.6% -16.8
SNP 7,261 21.0% + 2.1
Conservative 2,702 7.8% - 2.5
Labour to Lib Dems 16.2%
Conservative to Lib Dems 9.1%
SNP to Lib Dems 6.8%
Extracts from Willie Rennies speech at the count:
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 that will rock the foundations of Downing Street both number 10 and number 11
It is time that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both got that message.
This is a sensational victory. The Liberal Democrats have shown that we are the clear challengers to Labour in their heartlands.
There are messages tonight for all the major parties.
For the Liberal Democrats we have shown that we can win all across the country.
The Liberal Democrat message that we want a fairer, greener and more democratic society is one that wins widespread appeal
I would like to pay tribute to my Scottish Leader Nicol Stephen whose support for me in this campaign has been magnificent.
And also to Ming Campbell, Chris Huhne and Simon Hughes thank you also for your help. One of you will soon be the proud leader of a party that is making great advances.
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.
This must deeply depressing night for the SNPs Alex Salmond following their decline at the General Election. It is Scottish Liberal Democrats who have shown that we are the ones who can make the difference for Scotland.