Labour guilty of anti-social behaviour

A BY-ELECTION walkabout by the Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, was sabotaged by Labour activists yesterday.

Making his second visit to the Livingston by-election campaign, Mr Kennedy had planned a walkabout in the main street of the village of West Calder. But when he arrived in the village with a small band of aides, they were immediately surrounded by activists brandishing Labour placards.


They followed Mr Kennedy wherever he went, ruining potential photo opportunities and eventually forcing the Liberal Democrat leader to concede defeat, get into a people carrier, and regroup in the nearby village of Fauldhouse for a walkabout there instead.

Mr Kennedy took the setback philosophically, telling reporters: "The fact that Labour is seeking to doorstep me, as it were, when I'm going about my lawful business, tells you all you need to know."

Labour will defend a majority of more than 13,000 when voters go to the polls tomorrow.

Later, Mr Kennedy made his second visit to the Holyrood by-election for Glasgow Cathcart, where Labour is defending a majority of just over 5,000.

In the May General Election, the Lib Dems performed poorly in Livingston, coming third behind the Scottish National Party, with 15 per cent of the vote. Mr Kennedy insisted, however, that the by-election battle was now a two-horse race between his party and Labour.

"It is quite clear from the defending party where they think the challenge is coming from - it's coming from Charles [Dundas, the Lib Dem candidate] and it's coming from the Lib Dems," he said.

Scotsman.com