SNP's Marie Penman wins Fife council by-election

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-30952506

Version 0 of 1.

An SNP candidate has won a council by-election in Fife.

Marie Penman won the seat in Kirkcaldy East by 372 votes. Labour were second and the Conservatives a distant third.

The council seat is within former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Westminster constituency.

Ms Penman said: "It is a huge privilege to be elected as the SNP councillor for Kirkcaldy East ward. I am delighted at the overwhelming support of the communities here."

She added: "I pledge to repay their trust by working hard for this area over the coming months and years.

"There are a number of significant challenges facing the communities here and residents can rest assured that I will give nothing less than my absolute best in pursuit of a better future for this area."

The by-election was called following the resignation of former SNP councillor Arthur Morrison, after newspapers revealed he received his £16,000 salary while living in Austria.

At the council elections in 2012, Mr Morrison finished third in the multi-member ward behind Labour councillors Lawrence Brown and Kay Carrington.

Councillor Douglas Chapman, the SNP representative for Rosyth, said: "This SNP victory in Gordon Brown's backyard will chill Labour to the core across Scotland."