A FULL independent inquiry is to be held into how the only official record of who voted in a crucial by-election mysteriously vanished.

 

Yesterday The Courier exclusively revealed that the marked electoral registers for the Glenrothes by-election have disappeared from the Sheriff Clerk’s Office in Kirkcaldy where they were supposed to be held for a year.

 

Labour’s Lindsay Roy won the Westminster by-election last November with a 6700 majority—a result which defied pundits and political parties who all said the poll was too close to call.

 

The disappearance of the registers came to light after the SNP unsuccessfully requested a copy. This week the Scottish Court Service admitted that they received the documents but were now unable to find them.

 

Last night amid calls for a full investigation, the Scottish Courts Service said an external inquiry would take place.

 

The individual who will conduct the inquiry has not yet been appointed, but it has been confirmed that the outcome will be made public.

 

Yesterday the chief executive of the Scottish Court Service, Eleanor Emberson, issued a public apology for the loss of the document.

 

“It is important for all concerned to establish what happened to the marked register,” she said.

 

“We know that we still hold other documentation relating to the Glenrothes by-election but that this register is missing.

 

“I deeply regret and apologise for this loss and am arranging for the matter to be fully and independently investigated.”

 

A Scottish Government spokesman said, “The Scottish Court Service have already made clear their regret at the loss of this document. We welcome their decision to carry out an external investigation.”

 

Yesterday Fife Council confirmed the court’s receipt of the records along with other documents.Last night Central Fife SNP MSP Tricia Marwick welcomed the inquiry.

 

“I welcome this swift action by the Scottish Court Service and their commitment to an independent investigation,” she said.

 

“Any investigation must be truly external and not conducted by anyone involved in the court or the running of the election itself.

 

“The SNP first requested the marked-up register in November less than two weeks after the election took place.

 

“This investigation must explain why it was not available then and why it has taken two months for the sheriff clerk to admit it has disappeared.”

 

Stressing the importance of the registers, Mrs Marwick said, “They allow a check of who voted, but not how they voted, to confirm that the election was conducted properly.

 

“Without these records there is no evidence of either a fair or unfair election. This undermines the confidence of everyone who took part.”

 

Mrs Marwick added, “It is almost beyond belief that a by-election which attracted media coverage throughout the UK, which delivered such a surprise result and had a much higher turnout than anticipated now has no records to show who actually voted.”

 

Labour too is demanding an investigation, but rejected suggestions that the lost registers cast doubt on its victory.

 

“The loss of personal data is clearly very worrying, and Kenny MacAskill should definitely carry out an investigation into why an SNP Government department has lost confidential personal data again,” said a Labour spokesman.

 

“But to claim that this makes the election result unfair is crazy. It’s like an extreme case of sour grapes and dirty tricks rolled into one.

 

“Lindsay Roy won the by-election because of the incompetence of the SNP locally and nationally. The ballots were counted fair and square in front of the eyes of the world.

 

“Ms Marwick’s comments are an insult to the intelligence of Fifers. She simply cannot accept that they decided to vote for Labour, not her party.

 

“Labour will happily consent to a full recount of the ballot papers—and once again relive the famous result.”

 

Scottish Tory deputy leader and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said, “Whilst only a conspiracy theorist would jump to the conclusion there is something sinister in this, it does seem remarkably careless.

 

“This can only undermine public confidence in the voting system.”

 

Mr Roy last night insisted there was nothing unfair about the ballot and added his voice to calls for an independent probe, writes Claire Warrender.

 

“I do not believe at all it will make a difference to the result but I am extremely concerned this important document has apparently disappeared,” he said.

 

“There is no disadvantage to the SNP in this. All parties are equally disadvantaged if this information is not available.

 

“Tricia Marwick has claimed the election was unfair. This poses a couple of questions.

 

“Is she saying it’s unfair because the SNP lost? If so, that assumes a divine right to win every by-election.

 

“If she’s saying there is something more sinister then she needs to come up with the evidence.

 

“I understand the ballot papers are still there and it would not upset me at all if they want to pursue this alleged unfairness and get the candidates together to do a recount.

 

“It would be quite exhilarating for me because most of the votes were counted before I was there so it would be interesting to see the weight of votes in favour of Labour.

 

“When you don’t win you should accept it with good grace.

 

“Sadly that’s not happened. There’s an immaturity in my view and it’s time everyone grew up and acted in the interests of the constituents.”

 

Source: The Dundee Courier

 

This may or may not become a big issue. The conspiracy theorists are already suggesting they have been lost deliberately, to cover up a fix.

 

This was the by-election Brown could not afford to lose, as it was right next door to his seat. Purely by coincidence the documents were lost in Kirkcaldy, which is Brown's seat. :unsure:

I do hope this doesn't turn out to be true...I'm not a big Labour fan, but this would absolutely destroy Brown if it turned out to be a true falsification of the result. And I'm still desperately hoping for an anything but Cameron result...:(

I do hope this doesn't turn out to be true...I'm not a big Labour fan, but this would absolutely destroy Brown if it turned out to be a true falsification of the result. And I'm still desperately hoping for an anything but Cameron result...:(

 

And how would that be David Cameron's fault then, assuming he would be the one to benefit.....? IF Nu Labor have done some "mugabe/dubya style" manipulations, does this mean they actually deserve to be in power....?

 

At the very least, this is very suss, especially seeing as how the SNP requested these records two months ago.... now, all of a sudden, they're "lost"..... Did they end up in the shredder.....?

 

Hmmm.

 

While it is highly strange and very easy to point blaime at Nu Labour, we are talking about Fife council here. Fife council is run by morons who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag even with a knife, a map and bloody instructions.

 

 

Actually insulting the inteligence of the average fifer would be hideously hard. They don't have very much, especially down that way. Glenrothes and Kircaldy and the surrounding area is a horrid horrid place. It's home to the uk's lowest house price for a very good reason :lol:

 

I don't think it is a cover-up at all. But i do think the two parties need to get over themselves. New Labour is full of twats, and the SNP is un by a self obsessed moron who cares more about himself and independence at any cost than the country itself.

Hmmm.

 

While it is highly strange and very easy to point blaime at Nu Labour, we are talking about Fife council here. Fife council is run by morons who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag even with a knife, a map and bloody instructions.

 

Actually insulting the inteligence of the average fifer would be hideously hard. They don't have very much, especially down that way. Glenrothes and Kircaldy and the surrounding area is a horrid horrid place. It's home to the uk's lowest house price for a very good reason :lol:

 

I don't think it is a cover-up at all. But i do think the two parties need to get over themselves. New Labour is full of twats, and the SNP is un by a self obsessed moron who cares more about himself and independence at any cost than the country itself.

 

:lol: :lol:

 

Are you from Edinburgh by any chance.....? :lol:

 

:lol: :lol:

 

Are you from Edinburgh by any chance.....? :lol:

No, lol :lol:

 

Far worse, North East Fife.

 

Close enough to St Andrews to share a dialling code, but far enough away to have a separate post code. i'm KY15, St Andrews is KY16.