Lib Dems celebrate election of newest MP

12.57.00am GMT Fri 10th Feb 2006

New Lib Dem MP Willie Rennie on the campaign trail

Chelmsford Liberal Democrats have added their congratulations to the Lib Dems 63rd Member of Parliament, following Willie Rennie's election as MP for Dunfermline and West Fife.

Said Stephen Robinson (West Chelmsford Lib Dem candidate 2005), "Willie's victory is a superb result for a top-rate campaigner. As Willie himself said, this is a resounding backing for the Lib Dem position for a fairer, greener and more democratic country.

"It was a massive 16% swing away from Labour but also a humiliation for the Conservatives, who slumped into a poor fourth place on a 9% swing. Once again, the Liberal Democrats have shown they can win support from all the other parties when campaigning on the key policy issues.

"Most people thought that the Liberal Democrats would be fighting to retain the second place that they narrowly gained over the SNP in 2005 - or even fighting to stay ahead of the Conservatives. But David Cameron has failed at his first major electoral test.

The result was the worst Conservative Parliamentary by-election result for 8 years (while Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard led the Party), and this is the first ever Lib Dem gain from Labour in a Scottish parliamentary by-election."

More information www.dunfermlinelibdems.org.uk