Willie makes it 63

5.21.00pm GMT Fri 10th Feb 2006

Willie Rennie's sensational victory has stunned New Labour and shattered Conservative hopes of recovery

Willie Rennie's election as the new MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, home of chancellor Gordon Brown, takes the total of Liberal Democrat in the House of Commons to 63. His by-election victory not only saw a 16% swing from New Labour to the Liberal Democrats, it also saw David Cameron's Conservatives retain fourth place with a swing of 9% from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats.

Colin Taylor, chair of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said: "If we can achieve results like this in the middle of a leadership election, despite recent bad publicity, just think what could happen nationally if everyone who believes in Liberal Democrat principles decided to vote Liberal Democrat."