The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Election not just two-horse race, says Scotland secretary
THE LIBERAL Democrats will be “serious players” when it comes to the crunch in today’s Dunfermline by- election, according to the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Scotland, writes Kieran Andrews, political editor.
Alistair Carmichael, wh o replaced party colleague Michael Moore in the cabinet role earlier this month, has been out on the campaign trail on behalf of Liberal Democrat candidate Susan Leslie.
Scottish party leader Willie Rennie claimed victory in the Westminster seat in 2006, while Jim Tolson held the old Holyrood constituency of Dunfermline West until 2011.
Mr Carmichael reported a positive response from potential voters he has encountered on the doorsteps.
He said: “The response we are getting is good. Our vote is holding up well but a lot will come down to the number of people who turn out on the day.
“I think, if we can get our vote out, the result will be positive.
“We have a history of local activism and we have commanded credibility on the doorsteps.
“On the one hand you have a Labour council wanting to close schools and on the other the SNP Government trashing both the colleges and the local hospital provision.
“We are now seeing the economy start to turn the corner and we are now getting the credit as that comes through.”
Mr Carmichael said the big issues related to the centralisation of services, the economy and jobs, and insisted the vote was not a straightforward choice between Labour and the SNP.
He added: “I never predict in politics — but we are serious players in this by-election.”