With with less than 11 month to go before the IndyRef SNP lose the Dunfermline Scottish Parliament by-election to LAB
@ScottishPol: Victorious Lab candidate Cara Hilton arrives at #Dunfermline count pic.twitter.com/tG4K6nwuvB
— Tom Gordon (@ScottishPol) October 25, 2013
LAB GAIN from SNP Dunfermline Scottish Parliament by-election Lab10,275 SNP 7,402 LD 2,852 CON 2,009 UKIP 908 GRN593 Jacobite 161
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
May 5 2011 looks like a high point for the SNP never to be repeated
Two and half years ago in a result that overturned the polling and betting of only a fortnight earlier the SNP swept to power in the Scottish Parliament elections with an overall majority.
It was a great moment for the party and for the leader, Alex Salmond but since then it has been a struggle.
Overnight one of the seats won in 2011, Dunfermline, went to LAB on a 6.94% swing from the SNP in a result that underlines the massive challenge facing Salmond’s party ahead of the September 2014 referendum.
Dunfermline was a betting event that never really took off. LAB always look set to take the seat and even by late afternoon yesterday only a few hundred pounds had been wagered on Betfair.
Elsewhere last night there’ve been a large number of council by-elections. These are the results in so far.
Hamilton South council by election LAB GAIN from SNP Lab 1781 SNP 1120 Con 322 Christian 133 UKIP 86
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
LD HOLD North Walsham E on Norfolk CC LD 1044 UKIP 565 Lab 442 Con 359 Green 80 Ind 61
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
CON HOLD Warnham & Rusper on W Sussex CC CON 868 UKIP 335 Green 119 LD 103 Lab 65
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
LAB HOLD Upton on Wirral Lab 1934 Con 762 Green 143 LD 130
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
LAB HOLD Charnwood Loughborough Hastings Lab 554 Con 117 UKIP 111 Brit Dem 85 LD 26
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
Lab gain from CON Charnwood – Shepshed West Lab 683 Con 560 LD 179
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013
Wigan Winstanley Labour hold Lab 746 UKIP 421 CAP 326 Con 100 Green 55 Ind 27 LD 19
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 25, 2013