This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-24645770
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Dunfermline by-election: Labour's Cara Hilton wins seat from SNP | Dunfermline by-election: Labour's Cara Hilton wins seat from SNP |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Labour's Cara Hilton has won the Dunfermline by-election for the Scottish Parliament. | Scottish Labour's Cara Hilton has won the Dunfermline by-election for the Scottish Parliament. |
| The victory represents a gain from the SNP, who took the seat in 2011. | The victory represents a gain from the SNP, who took the seat in 2011. |
| 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, who was thrown out of the SNP and jailed for domestic abuse. |
| The SNP was defending a narrow margin but failed to hold on. One SNP MP blamed the Walker situation and the fact it was a mid-term election. | The SNP was defending a narrow margin but failed to hold on. One SNP MP blamed the Walker situation and the fact it was a mid-term election. |
| Labour took the seat with a majority of 2,873, a 7% swing from the SNP. | Labour took the seat with a majority of 2,873, a 7% swing from the SNP. |
| Ms Hilton said: "After the disgrace of Bill Walker, Dunfermline deserves better and I will ensure that we will be better - far better than what went before." | |
| The new MSP said the hard work started now. She added: "My number one priority is to stand up for local families here in Dunfermline." | |
| Shirley-Anne Somerville, of the SNP, said she was proud of the campaign she fought. | Shirley-Anne Somerville, of the SNP, said she was proud of the campaign she fought. |
| The by-election centred on contentious local issues, including proposed school closures by the council. | The by-election centred on contentious local issues, including proposed school closures by the council. |
| 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. | 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. |
| But the party's opponents tried to argue the SNP was centralising local services and spending too much time on the independence referendum. | |
| 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." | 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." |
| Turnout in the by-election was 42.65%. |