Labour braced for vote cut as polls open

VOTERS were going to the polls today in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, with Labour braced for a massive cut in their 11,500 majority.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Feb 2006, 11:58 BST

Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Nationalists are vying for second place and the contest is also the first electoral test for David Cameron's new-image Tory party.

Labour insiders have admitted the expect the party's majority to be reduced to between 2000 and 3000.

The by-election was caused by the death of long-serving Labour MP Rachel Squire.

Meanwhile, campaigners fighting to remove tolls from the Forth Road Bridge have staged a demonstration on the crossing.

The protesters marched across the bridge carrying banners yesterday, and tried to lay a wreath at the offices of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority.

The marchers were accompanied by Tom Minogue, a veteran anti-toll campaigner and independent candidate in today's by-election.