David Maddox: So it's all alright then... (Glenrothes that is)

When it emerged last month that all the documents with the records of who voted in the Glenrothes by-election last November there were dark mutterings from the Nationalists about possible dodgy goings on and that a cloud would hang over the result.

From some corners there were even suggestions the by-election won by Labour's Lindsay Roy (pictured) should be run again.

You may remember that having expected to win the SNP was roundly thrashed by Labour by almost 7,000 votes.

But a report has come out this afternoon from the Electoral Commission saying that it was "a very well run election."

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said: “All stages of the election – from registration of electors to the counting of votes – went smoothly despite many challenges faced by the electoral administrators responsible for running the poll. Fife Council also ran an extensive campaign to get people registered to vote, even though there were only seven working days between the writ being moved and the deadline for registering.”

He was particularly pleased with new safeguards for postal voting, which apparently worked well, including applicants having to provide a signature and date-of-birth for the first time.

He added: “We’re concerned at the loss of these documents and welcome assurances from the Scottish Courts Service that they are investigating the matter fully. Access to the marked register is important to ensuring transparency and every step should be taken to ensure this does not happen again."

So that's that then. Shame Glenrothes will have a harder time getting rid of the cloud over its reputation after it was branded Britain's ugliest town.