Council elections: Labour lose control of Fife Council on big day for Tories

Labour lost control of Fife Council as the Conservatives made huge gains across the region.

The SNP form the biggest party following Friday’s count in Glenrothes, returning 29 councillors.

They were followed by Labour, with 24 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats secured seven.

However, the story of the day was the Conservative Party, which returned 15 councillors, a rise from just three from 2012.

Despite a surge in support, gaining influence may prove tricky for local leader Dave Dempsey, with the SNP’s Karen Marjoram ruling out any coalition with the group.

COUNCIL ELECTIONS: Your complete guide to the results in Fife

She became interim leader after Neale Hanvey dramatically failed to get elected in Dunfermline Central.

Hinting that a link up with the Labour Party could be possible, she said: “It will be over my dead body.”

Asked if an informal arrangement could exist between the two parties, she added: “That would be a very, very, very, very last choice.”

For full coverage and reaction to the results in Fife and across the country, see Saturday’s Courier