Jumping from third in 2007 to a comfortable first position now, the wholly negative message of Labour, including outrageous assaults by Gordon Brown and Ed Milliband while here in Dunfermline, has been rejected by the electorate. Fife Labour Council Leader Alex Rowley was gracious in defeat but clearly shattered by the decision of the voters.

"Former Labour hopeful in this constituency, John Park, said last year that 'the SNP wasn't serious about Dunfermline, otherwise they would have selected a higher profile candidate'. Well, that was about as wrong as Labour's disastrous Scottish election campaign run by him as Labour Campaign Manager from Glasgow!

"The SNP campaign was led to perfection nationally by First Minister Alex Salmond and, here in Dunfermlnie by my excellent constituency team extending from my brilliant Election Agent, Alan Stewart, to Mr George Ferguson of Kincardine, who kept my hard-working leafleting volunteers in the West Fife Villages topped up with lemonade, jam tarts and chocolate crunchies!"

The new MSP concluded: "I am now a member of a majority group of 69 SNP members out of 129 in the Scottish Parliament. This is only the start of our work but I can guarantee that I shall do my very best for the the people of Dunfermline and West Fife".

Victory photo at the count with, from left to right: Jim Norris, Brian Montgomery, Bill's partner June, Bill, David Mogg (behind) and Alan Stewart.