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Cowdenbeath by-election: Alex Rowley holds seat for Labour Cowdenbeath by-election: Alex Rowley holds seat for Labour
(30 minutes later)
Alex Rowley has held the Cowdenbeath Scottish Parliament seat for Labour in the by-election sparked by the death of sitting MSP Helen Eadie.Alex Rowley has held the Cowdenbeath Scottish Parliament seat for Labour in the by-election sparked by the death of sitting MSP Helen Eadie.
There were seven candidates taking part in the contest, with voting taking place throughout Thursday.
Labour beat the SNP, recording a majority of 5,488 votes, with the Conservatives polling third and UKIP pushing the Lib Dems into fifth place.Labour beat the SNP, recording a majority of 5,488 votes, with the Conservatives polling third and UKIP pushing the Lib Dems into fifth place.
Mr Rowley became the leader of the Fife Council in 2012.Mr Rowley became the leader of the Fife Council in 2012.
The candidates The result saw an 11.25% swing from the SNP to Labour from the 2011 Scottish election, on a voter turnout of 34%.
Denise Baykal - UK Independence Party. Mr Rowley said the result, declared at about 01:00 on Friday, was about more than the Scottish government's 18 September independence referendum.
Dave Dempsey - Scottish Conservatives. He said: "It's about full employment for every young person to get the opportunities that they deserve from their lifetime.
Stuart Graham - The Victims Final Right Party. "It's about elderly people living in Fife with dignity, and making sure when they need services those services are available.
Jade Holden - Scottish Liberal Democrats. "We can give people jobs, we can give people opportunities, we can do that with a strong, devolved Scottish Parliament working within the UK."
Natalie McGarry - Scottish National Party. The SNP's Natalie McGarry said: "In eight months' time there is going to be a referendum, and people in this constituency and across Scotland will have a vote.
Alex Rowley - Scottish Labour. "I heard on the doorsteps from a lot of traditional Labour voters who said: 'Listen, Natalie, I'm not going to vote for you, but I am actually thinking about voting yes in the referendum'.
James Trolland - Scottish Democratic Alliance. "So Alex Rowley may be the victor tonight, but I believe the whole of Scotland will celebrate a Yes victory in September."