GE2015: Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath

Shockwaves as SNP take Labour's safest seat with a comfortable majority of 9, 974.

The Result

More than 80 years of Labour rule in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath has come to a dramatic end. That's despite former MP Gordon Brown securing a 24, 278 majority in the 2010 general election. From the beginning of the 2015 election campaign, it was a two-horse race between Labour and the SNP. Nationalist candidate Roger Mullin arrived at the Michael Woods Centre early on in the evening and was keen to speak to waiting press. He admitted that he was feeling 'confident' but advised 'caution' when asked whether he agreed with an exit poll which suggested the SNP could take 58 out of 59 Scottish seats.

Labour candidate Kenny Selbie, a Fife Councillor, arrived at the count venue at 1.47am to rapturous applause from his colleagues. Party activists huddled together throughout the evening and distanced themselves from the waiting press above. Media bids for interviews were repeatedly turned down. According to Kirkcaldy SNP MSP David Torrance, who was monitoring the counting process, his party 'hadn't lost a ballot box'.

Breakdown

Who is Roger Mullin?

Roger is 66 and is married with three adult daughters, and has lived in the constituency for 30 years. Mr Mullin has contested five previous elections, winning none of them. He is a researcher, and Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling where he teaches Politics, Organisation Studies and Decision Making on postgraduate courses. Roger is a former Vice Convener of the SNP, and has been party spokesman on the Environment, Industry, and Sport. Mr Mullin has also advised the United Nations on 24 projects in Africa.

Defeat for Kenny Selbie

Background - The Constituency

Labour’s Gordon Brown won the seat in 2005 following boundary changes, securing 24, 278 votes or 58.1% of the vote. He retained the seat in 2010 with 29, 559 votes or 64.5% of the vote. There was a 3.3% swing from the SNP to Labour in 2010. The SNP’s Douglas Chapman came second with 6, 550 votes, followed by the Lib Dems, Conservatives, UKIP, two independent candidates and Land Party.