THE SCOTTISH National Party emerged defiant from the unexpected by-election loss in Glenrothes, with party members admitting they were disappointed but far from downhearted.

Gracious in defeat after Labour’s 6737 margin of victory was confirmed, SNP candidate Peter Grant said he was proud of the fact that he and his party had increased their share of the vote since the general election of 2005 and had also posted one of the SNP’s biggest results in a Westminster by-election.

Mr Grant, who is also leader of Fife Council’s SNP-Lib Dem administration, was satisfied that his campaign team had worked tirelessly to reduce Labour’s majority in the area by almost 4000 and emphasised the party would continue to fight in the best interests of local people.

“I, myself, and everyone associated with Fife Council and the public sector will work with Lindsay Roy for the people of Fife,” he said.

“The SNP result in the by-election marks a significant achievement for us as a party in Fife and one we will build on to the next election.

“We have seen the SNP vote increase by almost 50% on what it was only a few years ago.

“I am, of course, disappointed that we did not win Glenrothes but I am proud to have fought a positive campaign focused on issues that matter to families in Fife as budgets tighten and energy bills increase.”

Mr Grant singled out his wife Fiona, his election agent David Alexander and Central Fife MSP Tricia Marwick for their efforts, while also paying tribute to former SNP councillor Michael Woods, who sadly died last week. Indeed, Mr Grant went on to join colleagues and fellow mourners at Mr Woods’ funeral service at St Paul’s Church in Glenrothes yesterday.

Mr Grant had been confident of success going into the by-election and was favourite to seize control, buoyed by countless visits from First Minister Alex Salmond and deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

However, the manner of the defeat has led to suggestions that voters had been perhaps swayed by what Ms Sturgeon called “relentlessly negative” campaigning on Labour’s part—referring to repeated criticism of Fife Council’s increase in home care charges, ultimately more of a local, not a national, issue.

“I readily concede that this was a very disappointing result for the SNP,” Ms Sturgeon said.

“But let’s look at the facts. We substantially cut Labour’s majority, our vote went up by 13% since the vote in the last general election and we recorded a 5% swing against Labour.

“Labour ran in this election a campaign that was relentlessly negative. It was very focused on a single local issue. It was incredibly misleading.

“The result can’t really be extrapolated across the country because it was relentlessly focused on a single local issue.”

Mr Salmond, meanwhile, told the BBC that lessons would be learned.

“I don’t like their campaigning style—I think it was fear-mongering and scare- mongering,” he said.

“It was, however, a successful campaign.

“We’ve got lessons to learn in terms of the tactics we employ.”

Meanwhile, the fallout from the Glenrothes by-election continued yesterday with those protesting against the introduction of home care charges by Fife Council citing their cause as the reason for the SNP’s defeat.

The scheme, which has seen the home care bills of some elderly residents rise from £4 a week to as much as £11 an hour, was introduced almost a year ago when Peter Grant, the SNP Glenrothes candidate, was already Fife Council leader.

The issue, which has sparked huge outcry from the elderly and disabled, became one of the major issues of the election, despite it not coming under Westminster jurisdiction.

Protest group Campaign Against Charges (CAC) has campaigned against the scheme since its introduction and yesterday said it believed the SNP’s failure to drop homecare charges cost them the by-election.

CAC spokesperson Maureen Closs said, “The SNP have felt the wrath of decent people in the Glenrothes area and it must be time for this SNP/Lib Dem council to scrap these charges.

“We are not out for blood but we would like to see justice done for the disabled and older people of Fife.”

Labour victor Lindsay Roy made the issue a key part of his campaign. SNP leader Alex Salmond said, “A campaign fought by Labour was a scaremongering and negative one but it was successful.”