2013 Dunfermline by-election

Scottish Parliamentary election June 2014 June 2014 2013 Dunfermline by-election Scotland parliamentary no 24 October 2013 2011 Scottish Parliament election 2011 2016 Scottish Parliament election 2016 42.7% (10.3 pp) Cara Hilton Cara Hilton.jpg Scottish Labour 10,279 42.5% 6.9 pp Shirley Anne Sommerville 2018.png Shirley-Anne Somerville Scottish National Party 7,402 30.7% 7.0 pp Susan Leslie Scottish Liberal Democrats 2,852 11.8% 7.9 pp James Reekie Scottish Conservatives 2,009 8.3% 1.2 pp Dunfermline constituency MSP Bill Walker Scottish National Party Cara Hilton Scottish LabourA 2013 by-election was held for the Scottish Parliament constituency of Dunfermline on 24 October 2013,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24045317 Date set for by-election in Bill Walker's Dunfermline seat BBC News BBC 11 September 2013 11 September 2013 following the resignation of its MSP, Bill Walker after he was convicted of 23 charges of assault.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24004675 Bill Walker resigns as MSP after pressure over domestic abuse convictions 7 September 2013 11 September 2013 BBC News It was won by Cara Hilton of the Labour Party, gaining the seat from the Scottish National Party (SNP). Background Bill Walker was elected as a SNP candidate in the 2011 election. In March 2012 a Scottish newspaper, the Sunday Herald, claimed that his first three marriages had ended with allegations of violent behaviour towards his wives.Hutcheon Paul Revealed: MSP's history of violence against three ex-wives http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/revealed-msps-history-of-violence-against-three-ex-wives.16923079 8 March 2013 Sunday Herald Scotland 4 March 2012 The SNP suspended Walker in March, and then expelled him in April, for allegedly not declaring similar claims cited in uncontested divorce proceedings during their MSP vetting process. On 22 August 2013, Walker was convicted of 23 offences of assault and one of breach of the peace in relation to three ex-wives and a stepdaughter, and sentencing was set for 20 September.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-23793532 BBC News - MSP Bill Walker guilty of domestic abuse BBC News 2013-08-22 2013-08-22http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/call-for-bill-walker-to-resign-after-guilty-verdict-1-3056946 Calls for wife-beating Bill Walker to quit as MSP - Top stories The Scotsman 2013-08-22http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/8/1109/PF-v-BILL-WALKER Sheriff's verdict in PF v Bill Walker Scotland-judiciary.org.uk 2013-09-13 2013-09-19 5 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150705012452/http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/8/1109/PF-v-BILL-WALKER dead The maximum sentence he could receive was 12 months, but only a longer sentence would see him automatically expelled from Parliament.Severin Carrell https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/22/bill-walker-msp-guilty-assault Salmond: Bill Walker MSP should stand down after assault conviction UK news The Guardian 2013-09-19 This led to considerable political and media discussion about the situation; a majority of MSPs backed a motion calling on him to resign.http://www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk/news-events/news/scottish-womens-aid-public-statement-resignation-bill-walker Scottish Women's Aid statement Scottishwomensaid.org.uk 2013-09-07 2013-09-19 As a result, Walker resigned on 7 September 2013. He was subsequently jailed for 12 months.BBC News - Bill Walker jailed for 12 months for domestic abuse. Bbc.co.uk (2013-09-20). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. Candidates On 9 September, 22-year-old local resident James Reekie announced that he would stand as the Scottish Conservative candidate. He centred his campaign around job creation and regeneration of Dunfermline city centre.By-election candidate uses launch to highlight town centre plight. Scottish Conservatives (2013-09-20). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. The SNP announced Shirley-Anne Somerville as their candidate on 16 September 2013, having chosen her from a shortlist of two, defeating Fife councillor Karen Marjoram. At the time she was director of communities at Yes Scotland, the campaign group supporting Scottish independence in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum .http://news.stv.tv/politics/239746-snp-selects-former-lothian-msp-as-dunfermline-by-election-candidate/ SNP selects former Lothian MSP as Dunfermline by-election candidate Politics News STV News 2013-09-19 Somerville failed to win a seat in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, but was appointed as a Regional List MSP for the Lothians later in 2007 (following the resignation of another SNP MSP) and served until the 2011 election.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24106115 BBC News - Labour and SNP pick Dunfermline by-election candidates Bbc.co.uk 2013-09-16 2013-09-19 Somerville and SNP party leader Alex Salmond apologised for Walker's tenure.Alex Salmond and Ed Balls enter the fray in Dunfermline by-election | Edinburgh & East | News | STV. News (2013-10-04). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. On 15 September 2013 Labour selected Cara Hilton,http://news.stv.tv/east-central/239659-cara-hilton-picked-as-labour-candidate-for-dunfermline-by-election/ Cara Hilton picked as Labour candidate for Dunfermline by-election Edinburgh & East News STV News 2013-09-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20131019220456/http://news.stv.tv/east-central/239659-cara-hilton-picked-as-labour-candidate-for-dunfermline-by-election/ 19 October 2013 dead a councillor for Dunfermline South ward on Fife Council since May 2012. She defeated Fiona Yates and Fife councillor Lesley Laird, Labour having chosen an all-woman shortlist to improve the gender balance in the Scottish Parliament.Tom Gordon http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/battle-for-dunfermline-begins-as-parties-select-their-candidates.22154778 Battle for Dunfermline begins as parties select their candidates Herald Scotland 2013-09-15 2013-09-19 Hilton is the daughter of former Labour MSP Cathy Peattie. On 17 September, it was announced that UKIP would field Peter Adams,BBC News - UKIP: 'Apathy on independence is greatest danger'. Bbc.co.uk (2013-09-21). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. who lives in Fife and was treasurer of Kirkcaldy West Community Council.Ukip to stand in Dunfermline by-election. The Scotsman (2013-09-23). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. The Liberal Democrats chose Susan Leslie as their candidate on 18 September,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24146440 BBC News - Dunfermline by-election: Lib Dems pick Susan Leslie as candidate Bbc.co.uk 2013-09-18 2013-09-19 a university lecturer and a councillor on Fife Council for the Burntisland, Kinghorn, Auchtertool and Western Kirkcaldy ward, a seat she retained in the 2012 elections. The Scottish Greens chose Zara Kitson, a 27-year-old pro-independence campaigner.Greens pick Zara Kitson for Dunfermline Bright Green John Black, the leader of the Scottish Jacobite Party,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-24526619 Dunfermline by-election: Smaller parties hit campaign trail 14 October 2013 15 October 2013 BBC News was nominated as an independent.Candidates confirmed for Dunfermline by-election - Fife / Local / News / The Courier https://web.archive.org/web/20130928110745/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/candidates-confirmed-for-dunfermline-by-election-1.134225 28 September 2013 . Thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved on 2013-10-29. Nominations closed on 23 September, with no further candidates nominated.BBC News - Dunfermline by-election: Nominations for candidates close. Bbc.co.uk (2013-09-23). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. UKIP controversy Adams was an elected member of the NHS Fife Board when he submitted his nomination, despite some interpretations of guidance being taken to mean board members cannot stand as candidates from the Scottish Parliament unless they resign.UKIP candidate for Dunfermline Peter Adams in nomination bungle | Edinburgh & East | News | STV. News (2013-09-27). Retrieved on 2013-10-29. However, UKIP noted other guidance reading: "An elected member vacates office on becoming ... (d) a member of the Scottish Parliament ... As a result, it will not be necessary for such members who wish to stand for election to resign prior to doing so, but if they are elected, they will automatically and immediately cease to be a member of the NHS board."UPDATE: Police say UKIP candidate's registration is matter for council - Politics / News / The Courier https://web.archive.org/web/20131027124407/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/politics/update-police-say-ukip-candidate-s-registration-is-matter-for-council-1.135499 27 October 2013 . Thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved on 2013-10-29. However, Adams resigned his board position after the issue came to light, and NHS Fife intended to reconvene meetings attended by Adams after his nomination. No complaint was registered with Police Scotland. Election campaign A live debate between the SNP, Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat candidates was aired by STV's Scotland Tonight programme on 14 October 2013. The debate drew "online criticism" for the absence of the Scottish Green Party's candidate.http://thetarge.co.uk/hub-current-affairs/scotland/scottish-greens-snubbed-in-stv-debate/0126 Scottish Greens snubbed in STV debate 15 October 2013 15 October 2013 The SNP, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, UKIP, and Scottish Green candidates took part in a televised debate on Newsnight Scotland on 21 October 2013, hosted by Gary Robertson.https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03fh04n/Newsnight_Scotland_21_10_2013/ BBC iPlayer: Newsnight Scotland - 21/10/13 21 October 2013 22 October 2013 Result Labour's Cara Hilton was elected, defeating the SNP's Shirley-Anne Somerville with a majority 2,800 votes (11.9%), overturning a previous SNP majority of 590 on a 6.9% swing. This was the first time ever that Labour had won a parliamentary seat from the SNP at a by-election. In her victory speech, Hilton praised the courage of preceding MSP Bill Walker's ex-wives. Scottish Parliament by-election, 2013: Dunfermline Scottish Labour Party Cara Hilton 10,279 42.5 +6.9 Scottish National Party Shirley-Anne Somerville 7,402 30.7 -7.0 Scottish Liberal Democrats Susan Leslie 2,852 11.8 -7.9 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party James Reekie 2,009 8.3 +1.2 UKIP Peter Adams 908 3.8 New Scottish Green Party Zara Kitson 593 2.5 New Independent (politician) John Black 161 0.7 New 2,877 11.8 N/A 24,200 42.7 -10.3 Scottish Labour Party Scottish National Party +6.9 Previous result 2011 Scottish Parliament election: Dunfermline Scottish National Party Bill Walker 11,010 37.6 Scottish Labour Alex Rowley 10,420 35.6 Scottish Liberal Democrats Jim Tolson 5,776 19.7 Scottish Conservatives James Reekie 2,093 7.1 590 2.0 29,396 53.0 Scottish National Party 2016 election Labour's Cara Hilton stood for re-election in the 2016 election, however was ousted by Shirley-Anne Somerville, the SNP candidate whom she had previously defeated in the by-election. 2016 Scottish Parliament election: Dunfermline Scottish National Party Shirley-Anne Somerville 14,257 43.3 +5.7 Scottish Labour Party Cara Hilton 9,699 29.5 -6.1 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party James Reekie 5,797 17.6 +10.5 Scottish Liberal Democrats James Calder 3,156 9.6 -10.1 4,558 13.8 +11.8 33,008 57.2 +4.2 Scottish National Party +5.9 External links Dunfermline 2013 Dunfermline by-election Category:2010s elections in Scotland Dunfermline by-election Category:Politics of Dunfermline Category:Politics of Fife Category:21st century in Fife Dunfermline by-election