Cameron taunts PM, saying: I'll be in Glenrothes, will you?

Published on Thursday 28 August 2008 22:05

DAVID Cameron has declared he will be campaigning in the Glenrothes by-election – and has challenged Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, to do the same.

Mr Brown yesterday faced taunts from the Tory leader to turn up for the fight in "his own backyard".

Mr Cameron's pledge to visit the Fife town came as the Conservatives announced they had chosen their candidate for the seat – Maurice Golden, 28, a former student leader.

Mr Cameron said: "I will be campaigning and supporting Maurice on the streets of Glenrothes. He is a first-class candidate, bursting with energy and enthusiasm.

"I hope that Gordon Brown will rise to the challenge of campaigning in his own backyard, so that the voters can see for themselves the choices on offer," the Tory leader said. "It is time for him to stop running scared and to stand up and be counted. I will be in Glenrothes. Will he?"

Mr Brown was criticised for not turning up to the Glasgow East by-election, where the SNP overturned a Labour majority of about 13,000.

Downing Street has maintained that it is not convention for prime ministers to campaign during by-elections, although Tony Blair broke that tradition.

However, Mr Brown will come under more scrutiny in the battle for Glenrothes, which is due to take place in late October or early November.

The constituency borders the Prime Minister's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat, and Mr Brown's Fife office has taken on its workload since the death of John MacDougall, the Labour MP, earlier this month.

Sources close to the Prime Minister have denied that he is taking an active part in picking the Labour candidate.

One of the names touted, however, is Lindsay Roy, the headteacher of Kirkcaldy High School, Mr Brown's alma mater.

The main battle will be between Labour and the SNP. Labour is expected to choose its candidate on Monday, while the SNP has selected Peter Grant.