Huge wins for the Liberal Democrats in Scotland as Tories and SNP lose ground

1.41.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Apr 2009

Scottish Liberal Democrats are celebrating today after winning two key by-elections - gaining one of the safest Conservative council seats in Scotland and winning another with a swing of over 20% from the SNP.

In Aberdeenshire, Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives after a collapse in Tory support in what had previously been of their safest seats anywhere in Scotland.

In Inverness, the Liberal Democrats triumphed in a seat in which the SNP topped the poll just two years ago. The swing from the SNP to the LibDems was a massive 21% with Labour third and the Tories an embarrassing fifth.

Local Lib Dem candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith, Kevin Lang said,

"These results show that more and more voters are turning to the Liberal Democrats. To have secured such massive swings from the Conservatives in one part of Scotland and from the SNP in another is a huge boost and shows that the Liberal Democrats are the party with real momentum.

"In Aberdeenshire, Labour could not even find a candidate and in Inverness, their vote halved. This shows that people are fed up with this Labour Government and angry at their handling of the economy.

"Whenever Gordon Brown dares to call the General Election, the Liberal Democrats will campaign with confidence and determination to win, particularly in areas like Edinburgh North & Leith."