Fife voted to back the UK’s membership of the European Union – but with a much smaller margin than expected.
The Kingdom backed the Remain campaign with 58.6% of the vote, compared to 41.4% for the Leave campaign.
Turnout was high, at 66.78%, with 182,307 ballots cast across the region.
The news emerged as the national results appeared too close to call.
Glenrothes MP Peter Grant, from the SNP and Remain campaign, said that the unpredictable national picture would needlessly impact upon all British citizens,
“This is a good result for Fife and shows that the people here share the view of other people in Scotland.
“But this is going to create issues across the economy and all because of internal fighting within the Conservative Party.”
Meanwhile, Jenny Gilruth, SNP MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, added: “It is a wonderful result for Fife.
“We fought a positive campaign and it obviously struck a chord with the public.”
Early predictions had expected a comfortable margin of victory for the Remain campaign, however, this was eroded as the count progressed in to the early morning.
Sources from the count floor told The Courier that several boxes in Kennoway and Kirkcaldy had been overwhelmingly in favour of the UK leaving the European Union.
Fife Council leader, David Ross of the Labour Party, said that he hoped the country would vote to remain a part of the EU.
“I am convinced that the Remain vote is best for Fife.
“The European Union has been very good to us for many years.”
Meanwhile, John Beare, Glenrothes North SNP councillor, said that the fast-changing national picture could have huge implications for Scotland’s future.
Asked if a second independence referendum could be initiated if Scotland voted against the rest of the United Kingdom, he said: “Nicola Sturgeon said that it would take a material change in circumstances.
“If Scotland has a 60/40 split, which looks roughly to be what is happening here in Fife, and we are still taken out then that could constitute a material change.”
