By Steve Bargeton, political editor, and Aileen Robertson

SENIOR SCOTTISH Liberal Democrats do not believe their party has any chance of winning the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, The Courier can exclusively reveal.

Leaked minutes of a top-level Westminster meeting of MPs make it clear their aim is to beat the SNP rather than topple Labour.

At the general election the Liberal Democrats came in second place, 11,500 votes behind Labour, with the SNP third by just 500 votes.

The bombshell comes in the wake of a miserable weekend for the party after front-bencher Mark Oaten resigned over an alleged affair with a rent boy.

The minutes were passed to SNP leader Alex Salmond and will spark a mole hunt among Lib Dems at Westminster.

Mr Salmond believes the leak may be an attempt to sabotage the campaign by Lib Dems angry at how Charles Kennedy was forced out of office.

The by-election was discussed at a meeting of Scottish MPs on January 11, attended by the party’s Scottish spokesman John Thurso and John Barrett, their opposite number to the minister of state.

Mr Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell, the front-runner to replace him, were not present.

The minute of the meeting makes clear the expectation of those present in the Dunfermline by-election.

It states, “Lib Dems have a good candidate in Willie Rennie, with Pete Barrett election agent.

“Important to have a good campaign and not slip behind the SNP.”

On the ground in Dunfermline the Lib Dems, publicly and privately, maintain they have a good chance of winning—a view clearly not shared by MPs.

Last night Mr Salmond said he could only speculate why he had been given such information.

He said, “This is a torpedo at the Liberal Democrat campaign.

“It is quite clear that in Dunfermline they are trying to win, but in London they are planning only to stop the SNP beating them.

Mr Salmond continued, “This is a con job on the people of Dunfermline in the same way as it was Liberal Democrat councillors who voted through the £4 toll on the Forth Bridge.

“I can’t tell who leaked this document. It could be an MP or a researcher.

“But there is anger at the shabby treatment of Charles Kennedy and there will be anger at their total lack of ambition.”

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems pledged to fight for Dunfermline’s High Street when they launched their campaign on Saturday.

Candidate Willie Rennie was joined by acting leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP and Scottish leader Nicol Stephen MSP at the derelict former Co-op site.

Mr Rennie said, “The city centre has been neglected by Labour for two decades and people are really frustrated.”

During the Lib Dem campaign, Mr Rennie (38), who lives in Kelty, is also focusing on bridge tolls, hospital services and schools.

He continued, “I think people are looking for the opportunity to send Tony Blair a message and the by-election presents this opportunity. There could well be a shock.”

Mr Rennie also revealed last night he had written to Labour candidate Catherine Stihler challenging her to support his petition against the proposed bridge tolls hike.

“The Labour candidate can make her position on this matter clear simply by signing our petition.

“If she is not going to join local people in backing the established Lib Dem campaign urging a rethink then she must explain why.”

Sir Menzies said, “Willie Rennie is the clear challenger to Tony Blair’s Labour candidate in Dunfermline and West Fife.

“The Liberal Democrats have a strong track record when it comes to winning by-elections, taking seats across the country with swings of up to 35%.

“Willie Rennie needs only a 14% swing to win here.”

Mr Stephen added, ““We got a really positive reaction out and about Dunfermline and there is clearly a groundswell of support for Willie Rennie in the area.”

Labour pledged to continue to fight to safeguard jobs at Fife’s Rosyth dockyard, after news 450 apprentices are to be taken on over years (see report on Page 1).

Labour’s Catherine Stihler emphasised the revival at the yard.

She said, “Instead of shedding jobs, Rosyth is now taking on and training new workers.

“The yard is vital to the economy of Scotland and Fife, contributing £400 million to our national income.

“This has only happened because of Labour’s commitment to training and skills, Labour’s handling of the economy producing the highest employment rates ever and lowest inflation and interest rates in a generation and Labour’s commitment to Rosyth.”

However, a Conservative spokesman said, “The last few years has seen the Labour Party preside over the decimation of manufacturing across Scotland, as quarter after quarter shows the country’s manufacturing output falls relentlessly.

“Whether it’s Labour at Westminster or Labour and the Lib Dems at Holyrood, Fife has taken more than its fair share of pain.”