Labour loses crucial by-election (AFP)

by Prashant Rao 9 minutes ago LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown suffered a major blow Friday after his ruling Labour Party lost a crucial by-election in his native Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) reversed a more than 13,000-vote majority in Glasgow East to snatch Labour's 25th-safest seat, with questions likely to be asked of Brown's future as premier. Labour has endured two previous by-election losses in recent months and seen support plummet to record lows in the opinion polls, while Brown himself has been under pressure because of the rising cost of living, his administration's recent economic record and his own leadership style. Overall, John Mason of the SNP garnered 11,277 votes, a 26-percent increase in the party's share of the vote compared to the last general election in May 2005, compared to... [read full story]