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Dunfermline by-election: Count under way after polls close Dunfermline by-election: Labour's Cara Hilton wins seat from SNP
(about 2 hours later)
Counting is under way in the Dunfermline by-election to select a new MSP for the Scottish Parliament seat. Scottish Labour's Cara Hilton has won the Dunfermline by-election for the Scottish Parliament.
Polling stations across the constituency closed at 22:00, with a result expected in the early hours of Friday morning. The victory represents a gain from the SNP, who took the seat in 2011.
There are seven candidates standing, representing the SNP, Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, the Green Party, UKIP and one independent. The by-election was caused by the resignation of sitting MSP Bill Walker, who was thrown out of the SNP and jailed for domestic abuse.
The by-election was caused by the resignation of sitting MSP Bill Walker. The SNP was defending a narrow margin but failed to hold on. One party MP blamed the Walker situation and the fact it was a mid-term election.
Walker was jailed for a year after being convicted for assaults on three ex-wives and a step-daughter.
He was elected for the SNP in 2011, but thrown out of the party when the charges came to light.
Local issuesLocal issues
Turnout in the by-election has been estimated at about 42%, with early indications that Labour could be on course to win the seat. The parties fought the campaign over contentious local issues, including proposed school closures by the council.
The SNP is defending a narrow margin - and with a cushion of just 590 votes at the last count. The SNP also focused on its national policies such as the council tax freeze and the decision to remove the tolls on the nearby Forth Road Bridge.
SNP MP Pete Wishart has tweeted: "Would be a disaster for Labour if they didn't win Dunfermline convincingly given the reasons for the by election and mid term." But the party's opponents tried to argue the SNP is centralising local services and spending too much time on the independence referendum.
The parties have fought it out over contentious local issues, including proposed school closures by the council. SNP MP Pete Wishart earlier tweeted: "Would be a disaster for Labour if they didn't win Dunfermline convincingly given the reasons for the by election and mid term."
The SNP has also focused on its national policies such as the council tax freeze and the decision to remove the tolls on the nearby Forth Road Bridge. Turnout in the by-election was 42.75%.
But the party's opponents have tried to argue the SNP is centralising local services and spending too much time on the independence referendum.