THERE were two narratives of the result in Cowdenbeath - one was that the result followed traditional British election narratives of mid-term punishment for the government of the day.
On this, the Cowdenbeath result, in reverting to 2007 levels of support for the SNP, was simply part of a to-be-expected trend. Nothing to see here . . .
On the Labour analysis, Cowdenbeath was a devastating blow to Yes Scotland and the voting intentions of the independence movement ahead of next September.
Bounce back to the other view and we have a by-election following the death of much-loved local Labour MSP Helen Eadie, which was simply a return to a traditional kind of mid-term politics where the incumbent governments can expect a bit of stick before coming good again, and it had nothing to do with the referendum in September.
Like most fiercely contested truths, there is probably a bit on both sides here. Labour is exaggerating the impact on the referendum in September, and the SNP is talking it down.
But there are further factors, which imply sophistication of Scots voters that should not be understated. One is that like their counterparts across from the water from Stranraer, Scots have become used to different voting systems and more sophisticated in employing their regional, list, Westminster, or by-election votes. They know the difference.
So the citizens of Cowdenbeath and Kelty and Dalgety Bay know they were voting for a replacement for Helen Eadie, not casting an independence referendum vote.
But what of the minor placings? The Conservatives, with arguably the best candidate, increased the percentage and numerical share, and saw off Ukip. Result. Ukip got nowhere near saving its deposit but beat the Liberal Democrats. Result.
The LibDems, in the very constituency of their Scottish leader's upbringing, have hit a new low from which they may struggle to recover. They will have to recover in the European elections if they are to avoid Ukip becoming a genuinely UK institution and the LibDems disappearing as one.
On Ukip, there are mixed views as to whether their stance on the EU and immigration will strike a chord north of the Border.
This will be answered at the European elections in June.
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