Tempers boil over on soaking polling day

A STEADY stream of voters turned out at the Glenrothes by-election yesterday, despite the cold and rain. However, turnout was expected to be lacklustre as the battle to elect a new MP came to a climax.

Hundreds of activists turned out yesterday morning as all parties made a final push, but last night both the leading parties predicted the outcome would be close.

Tempers flared at one polling station, near the Cadham neighbourhood centre in Pitcoudie, when police were called to defuse an argument.

Labour said they had been told disabled campaigners handing out leaflets urging people not to vote SNP were harassed by Nationalist supporters. The SNP said they were aware of an incident.

Police said they moved on the people involved, and deputy returning officer Iain Grant said:

"The activists dispersed and there has been no interruption to the voting process." Elsewhere, however, the mood was much more relaxed. Outside a polling station in Markinch, the picturesque village on the eastern fringe of the constituency, there was an air of camaraderie.

One elderly SNP activist approached the Labour canvassers to shake hands and thank them for the sweets they had given him.

As evening set in, activists prepared to trade campaign stories over a pint in the cosy Laurelbank Hotel.

The most vocal campaigning in the constituency came from the SNP, with a car blaring out Alex Salmond's message.

Following the death of former Labour MP John MacDougall, who held the seat with a 10,664 majority, this seat was seen as pivotal to Gordon Brown's chances of staying in office.

After the loss of Glasgow East in the summer – previously a Labour stronghold – many predicted the party would be dealt a devastating defeat.

But, with Mr Brown's performance in handling the current economic crisis, his position has strengthened and the outcome of the Glenrothes by-election has become less crucial; although an SNP win would still be seen as a bloody nose for the Prime Minister.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, yesterday made his eleventh visit to the constituency and Mr Brown has also broken with convention to visit twice.

Lindsay Roy, the Labour candidate, and headteacher of Mr Brown's former school, cast his vote at a local primary school. "I am confident, optimistic, but not complacent," he said.

Peter Grant, the SNP candidate and Fife Council leader, also cast his vote at the Collydean Primary School.


'Cheek' of hidden charge for ID cards data

APPLICANTS for one of the UK government's new identity cards face a hidden charge to have their fingerprints and photograph taken, it emerged last night.

The Home Office yesterday invited private firms to bid for a £200 million annual contract to collect "biometric" details from applicants. Officials were forced to admit that the selected high street firm – Royal Mail or Boots the Chemist are possibilities – would be able to levy a fee on top of the £30 cost of the card. The Liberal Democrats said the hidden charge was an "incredible cheek" and could virtually double the cost.

The overall cost of the ID card scheme has risen to almost £4.8 billion. There will be a further £326 million bill to introduce the cards for non-European Union nationals wanting to enter the UK from 25 November. The cards, will be trialled on airport workers, and go nationwide from 2012.