Top Tory predicts Lib Dem win in Edinburgh South

5.05.00pm GMT Sun 10th Jan 2010

The Conservative campaign in Edinburgh South was delivered another blow today after the top Tory blogger, Iain Dale, predicted that the Liberal Democrat Fred Mackintosh and NOT the Conservatives were on course to beat Labour here in Edinburgh South.

The influential Tory blogger and commentator - a former Conservative Parliamentary Candidate - has predicted that the Liberal Democrats were set to increase their numbers of MPs, both here in Scotland and across the UK as a whole.

On Saturday 10 January 2010 he published a list of predicted results - including the conclusion that local resident, campaigner and Scottish Liberal Democrat Fred Mackintosh would beat the current Labour MP and become Edinburgh South's local Member of Parliament.

The news comes just a few months after a major opinion poll carried out by independent website PoliticsHome predicted a Liberal Democrat gain here in Edinburgh South at the next election.

Simon Clark, agent for Liberal Democrat candidate Fred Mackintosh said, "We know from experience that the Conservatives always predict they can win in Edinburgh South and then come third or fourth, but it is good to hear that Tory Blogger Iain Dale accepts the growing confidence that the Liberal Democrats are now set to win in this area come polling day.

"However, we know that Labour will fight tooth and nail to hold on and we are taking nothing for granted. That is why the Liberal Democrats will be fighting our biggest ever campaign here in Edinburgh South over the coming months."

Related Links:

Read Iain Dale's predictions for yourself.

Read how independent pollster PoliticsHome predicted a Lib Dem win in Edinburgh South.