Dunfermline Labour Candidate

Catherine Stihler immediately started a campaign for a second road crossing to be built across the River Forth after being selected as Labour's candidate for the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election last night.

Ms. Stihler will today launch a petition in Dunfermline High Street calling for a second crossing to be built. The move comes after the proposed £4 toll on the existing bridge was dropped after pressure from Labour.

Speaking last night, she said: "Good transport links are vital to the prosperity of Dunfermline and West Fife.

"Not only must the toll increases be rejected, but I believe the long term economic prospects of Dunfermline and the whole of Fife need a new bridge.

"Under Labour £66 million has been spent in the last few years improving public transport across the Forth.

"Now we need to show even greater vision and boldness and campaign for a second bridge. This will help commuters who live in Fife to travel to work in the Edinburgh area but it will also encourage new businesses to locate in Dunfermline and West Fife."

The new bridge would have dedicated public transport lanes to minimise the environmental impact and increases in congestion.

Ms. Stihler has wasted no time in carrying on the work of her friend and colleague Rachel Squire who campaigned tirelessly for better transport links as MP for the constituency until her death earlier this month.

Ms. Stihler said: "Rachel was as dedicated and committed an MP as any constituency could have.

"I served my political apprenticeship under her, sharing her office and her concerns over the last seven years.

"I am determined to push forward the causes which Rachel campaigned for if I am elected as MP for Dunfermline and West Fife on 9 February.

"I am honoured to be given the opportunity to carry on her work for the people of the community we both lived in."

Neighbouring MP, Chancellor Gordon Brown, welcomed Ms. Stihler's selection as Labour's candidate.

The Chancellor said: "Catherine Stihler has all the qualities needed to try to fill the gap left by Rachel Squire's untimely death.

"I have known Catherine for many years and she has the dedication, talent and guts which I recognised in my colleague Rachel."