LABOUR squashed the Scottish National Party in yesterday's Glenrothes by-election, further evidence that the financial mayhem across the world has given Gordon Brown a significant bounce for his resolute handling of the crisis.

Graham Dines

LABOUR squashed the Scottish National Party in yesterday's Glenrothes by-election, further evidence that the financial mayhem across the world has given Gordon Brown a significant bounce for his resolute handling of the crisis.

Party managers were taken by surprise in a contest all but written off a few weeks ago. Candidate Lindsay Roy had a majority of 6,737. Both the Tory and Liberal Democrat candidates lost their deposits.

Glenrothes borders the Prime Minster's Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath constituency, and Mr Brown staked political capital by visiting it twice during the campaign - breaking the precedent that premiers stay away from by-elections. Mr Brown's wife Sarah was also deployed to help bring in support.