Tag Archives: glenrothes by-election

Mark Pack

Glenrothes by-election marked register set to rise from the dead

By Mark Pack | Mon 9th November 2009 - 10:20 am

A week today, starting at 10am on Monday 16th November, an act of political record keeping resurrection will commence as the lost marked register from the Glenrothes Westminster Parliamentary by-election is recreated.

The lost of the Glenrothes marked register caused more controversy than such loses usually do both because it happened at a Parliamentary by-election and because the result in that election was, to many people, a surprise.

The Goverment’s reaction to the loss of marked registers after the 2005 general election was underwhelming. As I described it in February:

In other words : ‘we don’t know on what dates records were

…

Continue reading »
Posted in Election law and News | Also tagged and | Leave a comment
Mark Pack

Missing: one marked register

By Mark Pack | Tue 3rd February 2009 - 11:54 am

News via the Press Association:

The SNP demanded an inquiry after it emerged that a record of everyone who voted in last year’s Glenrothes by-election has gone missing.

The party had asked to see the marked registers from November’s crucial by-election – which resulted in a shock victory for Labour.

I’m not hugely surprised by this, as after the 2005 general election there were numerous complaints from people who tried to access the marked register for their constituency about the records being in a poor shape, delayed for long periods on in part missing. The rules then were that marked registers were …

Continue reading »
Posted in Election law and News | Also tagged , , and | 6 Comments
Stephen Tall

What does Glenrothes mean for the Lib Dems?

By Stephen Tall | Fri 7th November 2008 - 10:05 am

In the scheme of things, it seems unlikely that this week will be best remembered by history for a by-election in Scotland; but, still, the Glenrothes was (as politicians under the kosh of bad polls are prone to note) about real votes in a real election.

And the Lib Dems tanked. The party’s vote dropped by 10%, our meagre 947 votes failing to save our deposit, with the added ignominy of finishing behind the Tories. None of which can be any reflection on our candidate, Harry Wills. But it must cause the rest of us to reflect. In a

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds and Parliamentary by-elections | 29 Comments
The Voice

Glenrothes: thank you

By The Voice | Fri 7th November 2008 - 8:43 am

A copy of the thank you message from by-election agent Andrew Reeves has winged its way to LDV Towers:

What a great effort everyone has put into the campaign over the last 75 days. Yes, we moved into the HQ in Markinch back in August! I just wanted to say a huge and sincere thank you.

We have had great help from all over the UK, including visits from activists and Parliamentarians and many of you have helped in other ways as well.

We could not have run this campaign without you.  Thank you.

As with the previous Scottish by-election, …

Continue reading »
Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | 11 Comments
Stephen Tall

Is the SNP a shoo-in for Glenrothes? (Or is Labour lowering expectations?)

By Stephen Tall | Thu 6th November 2008 - 9:38 am

The Daily Mail’s Ben Brogan at least is convinced that Labour are down-and-out in today’s Scottish by-election:

Labour word is that Glenrothes is a lost cause. The SNP will take it by 1500, give or take 500. I don’t detect a Brown Central attempt to prepare a “shock” win. Instead they say that had they had a few days more it might have made a difference, and that without Gordon and Sarah Brown’s personal intervention the result would be far worse. So the good news is that defeat will be masked by the Obama euphoria.

Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | 9 Comments
Mark Pack

SNP by-election candidate says he doesn’t want to be an MP for more than five years

By Mark Pack | Tue 28th October 2008 - 11:07 pm

The Daily Telegraph has the rather odd story about Glenrothes candidate Peter Grant.

Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Leave a comment
Alex Foster

Glenrothes update

By Alex Foster | Tue 28th October 2008 - 10:36 am

A few members of our forum have mentioned the lack of coverage of the Glenrothes by-election, and by a curious coincidence, I received an update email from the campaign manager Andrew Reeves at almost the exact same time.

I was sat in the by-election HQ in Markinch, Glenrothes on Saturday afternoon with Tavish Scott MSP, the new Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats looking at the article in the Guardian, where they have said “even the Tory and the Lib Dem could lose their deposits.”

We have had this happen once this year, in the Glasgow East by-election, let us ensure it

…

Continue reading »
Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Also tagged , and | Leave a comment
Andrew Reeves

Glenrothes

By Andrew Reeves | Fri 29th August 2008 - 4:54 am

Now in my third month in Scotland, I’m on my second by-election.

Glenrothes has come around following the tragic death of John McDougall. It is one of four Parliamentary seats in Fife; we hold two of them, Sir Menzies Campbell in North East Fife and Willie Rennie in Dunfermline (which as you will recall we won in 2006 in the last by-election in Fife). Labour hold the other – it is Gordon Brown’s seat.

So, I’m asking you today to come and help us here in Fife.  I’m writing this piece as I watch Barack Obama’s speech knowing (and being jealous of) …

Continue reading »
Posted in Parliamentary by-elections | Also tagged and | 8 Comments
The Voice

John Macdougall MP dies

By The Voice | Wed 13th August 2008 - 10:34 am

John Macdougall, Labour MP for Glenrothes in Fife, has died from cancer of the lungs. The Press Association has a biography here. Our sympathies are with his family and friends.

Posted in News and Parliamentary by-elections | 5 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Michael BG
    Simon R, My point was that as rich people ignore their social responsibility there should be no surprise that those who feel excluded from the economic benef...
  • Mary ReidMary Reid
    @Simon R. I think you will find it a fascinating read. The authors set up The Equality Trust https://equalitytrust.org.uk/ - which explores the ideas further....
  • Simon R
    @Mary: Thanks for the link to The Spirit Level. That looks an interesting read, which I have now just added to my Amazon wishlist :-) I do though tend t...
  • Simon R
    I totally agree with Alan's article. There's nothing inconsistent with being liberal and being patriotic, and liberals should feel able to be proud of their cou...
  • Hywel
    I came looking here as I'd not seen the party's response reported anywhere. I'm not sure it was worth the Mbps I used up to get it as it is so vague and could ...