Tories say they're 'safe choice' for Glenrothes

THE Conservatives yesterday insisted they were the "safe choice" for voters as the party's by-election got under way in Fife.

Maurice Golden, the Tory candidate in Glenrothes, was flanked by Annabel Goldie, MSP, the Scottish party's leader, and David Mundell, MP, the shadow secretary of state, on walkabout in neighbouring Markinch, Fife, yesterday at the launch of their campaign.

It came as Labour in the Commons formally launched the critical 6 November by-election campaign.

Government business managers moved the writ for the poll to take place in the next-door constituency to that of Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister. It came nearly three months after Labour crashed to defeat in its Glasgow East stronghold on a 22.53 per cent swing to the Scottish National Party.

Mr Golden, 28, an environmental campaign manager from Newport in north-east Fife, said: "We want to show that we are the safe choice, and the effective choice for the people of Glenrothes."

He said the biggest concern among local people stemmed from economic turmoil in the financial markets. "People are worried about their pensions, people are worried about their savings and people are worried about their jobs. The backdrop to all that of course is the economic crisis that's currently engulfing both the United Kingdom and also the world."

Peter Grant, the SNP candidate, said: "We have the message and the momentum to win this by-election, but we will never take the support of local people for granted."

The Westminster seat became vacant following the death of John MacDougall, the Labour MP who commanded a majority of 10,664.

The other candidates declared to date are Lindsay Roy, (Lab), Harry Wills (Lib Dem), Morag Balfour (Scottish Socialists) and Kris Seunarine (UK Independence Party).