SNP candidate Natalie McGarry (left) introduces herself to a constituent whilst campaigning

The Cowdenbeath by-election, 2014 was a by-election held for the Scottish Parliament constituency of Cowdenbeath on 23 January 2014.

Background

The by-election was held following the death of the constituency's MSP, Helen Eadie, who had been diagnosed with cancer the previous year.[1]

Eadie had represented Cowdenbeath since the first election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, making her one of the few MSPs to have served in the Scottish Parliament continuously since its inception. Prior to the 2011 election the seat was known as Dunfermline East. In the 2011 election Eadie held the seat with 46.5% of the vote and a majority of 1,247 votes (4.9%) over the second placed Scottish National Party candidate.

Result

In the by-election, the seat was held by Labour candidate Alex Rowley, increasing Labour's vote share to 55.8% and majority to 27.4% over SNP candidate Natalie McGarry, with an 11.25% swing.[2]

2014 Cowdenbeath by-election[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Rowley 11,192 55.8 +9.3
SNP Natalie McGarry 5,704 28.4 -13.2
Conservative Dave Dempsey 1,893 9.4 +2.4
UKIP Denise Baykal 610 3.04 New
Liberal Democrats Jade Holden 425 2.1 -1.8
The Victims Final Right Stuart Graham 187 0.93 New
SDA James Trolland 51 0.25 New
Majority 5,488 27.4 +22.5
Turnout 20,062 38.4 -8.5
Labour hold Swing +11.25

Previous Result

2011 Scottish Parliament election: Cowdenbeath
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Helen Eadie 11,926 46.5
SNP Ian Chisholm 10,679 41.6
Conservative Belinda Don 1,792 7.0
Liberal Democrats Keith Legg 997 3.9
Land Party Mick Heenan 276 1.1
Majority 1,247 4.9
Turnout 25,670 46.9
Labour win (new seat)

2016 Scottish Parliament election

Despite Labour's by-election success, in the subsequent 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Annabelle Ewing gained the constituency for the SNP, although Rowley was re-elected to the Scottish parliament as an additional member for the Mid Scotland Fife region.

2016 Scottish Parliament election: Cowdenbeath
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Annabelle Ewing 13,715 46.1 +4.5
Labour Alex Rowley 10,674 35.7 -10.8
Conservative Dave Dempsey 4,251 14.2 +7.2
Liberal Democrats Bryn Jones 1,094 3.7 -0.2
Majority 3,041 10.4 N/A
Turnout 29,857 54.7 +7.8
SNP gain from Labour Swing +7.65

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Labour MSP Helen Eadie dies, aged 66". BBC News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Cowdenbeath by-election: Alex Rowley holds seat for Labour". BBC News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  3. ↑ Candidates Fife News Online - Facebook
  4. ↑ Seven candidates will fight Cowdenbeath By-election Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine CentralFifeTimes
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