Reid hails Falkirk win

The panel gave their views on BBC Scotland's Election Special

Scottish Secretary Dr John Reid said he was "delighted" with Labour's win in the Falkirk West by-election.

Speaking on BBC Scotland's By-Election Special, Dr Reid said the UK party would share his feelings and pointed out that Labour had not lost a by-election to the Scottish National Party since Govan in 1997.

But SNP health spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon MSP insisted that the result was a disaster for Labour and cited the 16% swing to the SNP as evidence that they were the main alternative to Labour in Scotland.

The Scottish Socialists said they were making good progress while the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said they had been resigned to performing poorly.

John Reid is delighted at the result

Dr Reid praised Labour's candidate Eric Joyce and said he would do an excellent job of representing the constituency at Westminster.

He also predicted that the new MP "will have a much bigger majority at the next general election".

In a reference to Mr Joyce's acceptance speech, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said: "I think to describe a 700 majority as a clear mandate is stretching things a bit.

"This is an excellent result for the SNP, it is a massive swing to the SNP and a 16% drop in the Labour vote."

The Conservatives' Phil Gallie MSP admitted it was not the best night for his party.

He said he always expected the Conservatives to poll around 10% of the vote and to be squeezed out by disaffected Labour voters turning to the SNP.

General election

But he added: "I don't think we can look at this in general election terms, it is just another by-election."

Liberal Democrat panellist Michael Moore MP said he also had low expectations given his party's track record in the seat.

But he said: "The truth and test of the parties comes at general elections."

The Scottish Socialists' Rosie Kane said her party had firmly established itself as the fourth party in Scottish politics.

She said: "This is a great result for us and we are perhaps the only party rejoicing. "

Ms Kane added that the result was a "shambles" for Labour and accused them of "creating apathy" in the constituency.