Only 14% Swing to WIN: Lib Dems unveil candidate for By-election Campaign

12.00.00am GMT Wed 18th Jan 2006

Willie Rennie and Nichol Stephen

Unveiling the Liberal Democrat candidate for the campaign to win the Dunfermline and West Fife Parliamentary By-election Nicol Stephen said the contest was a two horse race between local Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie and Tony Blair's representative.

Nicol Stephen, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said:

"Willie Rennie will be a first class MP for Dunfermline and West Fife. He has an unshakeable commitment to local people and a wealth of campaigning experience, which will make him a powerful representative in Parliament. This by-election will be a straight choice between Tony Blair's representative and Willie Rennie. Willie will be an energetic and determined ambassador for Dunfermline and West Fife."

Mr Rennie, 38, is an experienced and local campaigner. He is a Fifer who lives in Kelty with his wife and two sons. Willie was originally from Strathmiglo where his grandfather was the minister and father was the grocer. A keen runner Willie is a member of Carnegie Harriers and was runner up in the Scottish Coal Carrying Championship in Kelty.

Launching his campaign Willie Rennie said:

"National commentators agree that the Liberal Democrats can win Dunfermline and West Fife. At the last election we were second with a big increase in our vote. With a strong team of local councillors it is clearly a two horse race between the Liberal Democrats and Tony Blair's Labour Party.

"Dunfermline and West Fife needs a powerful voice in Parliament. The Labour Party has neglected our area for too long."

"I will be campaigning against the huge increase in the bridge tolls proposed by Labour controlled FETA. They would be far too punitive for hard-pressed commuters who have no public transport alternatives."

"Standards in our schools are below average and teacher numbers have fallen in Fife. I will be pressing Labour controlled Fife Council to recruit more teachers and build a new Dunfermline High School and a secondary school for the west Fife villages."

"I will work with hospital campaigners to ensure that Fife Health Board keeps its promises on Queen Margaret Hospital and doesn't centralise even more services to Kirkcaldy. But that alone is not enough. We need more services delivered from Queen Margaret to help tackle issues like the failed cancer waiting time targets."

"Some of our communities are under threat from open cast mining. I will work with them to make sure their rights are not trampled on."

"Finally, Dunfermline has a great heritage - but thanks to Labour you'd hardly know it. I am ashamed of our High Street. I will campaign to make sure Labour run Fife Council do not neglect our city centre any more."

• In the General Election last year the Liberal Democrats came second in Dunfermline and West Fife.

• The Liberal Democrats only need a 13.6% swing to win the seat from Labour.

• In the constituency Labour has 12 councillors, Lib Dems 5 and SNP 1. The Tories have no Councillors. There are also two independent councillors.

Willie Rennie biography

• A Fifer, living in Kelty with his wife Janet and two sons, Alexander (9) and Stephen (20 months)

• Originally from Strathmiglo where his father was the local grocer and his grandfather was the minister

• Awarded a degree in Biology from Paisley College of Technology

• Married at Strathmiglo Parish Church

• Works as a campaigner on health and science issues

• Member of Carnegie Harriers

• Runner up in the Scottish Coal-Carrying Championship