London, Nov 13 : Labour won a by-election in Scotland Thursday night by a margin whose size commentators said would come as welcome news to Britain's ruling party.

Labour candidate Willie Bain's "unexpectedly comfortable margin" of 8,111 votes, said the Financial Times, "will be a boost to Gordon Brown, the prime minister".

The Daily Telegraph, which backs the opposition Conservative Party, said Bain had been clear favourite to win the contest, "but the scale of his victory, taking 59 percent of the popular vote, was a surprise".

The second place was taken by the regional Scottish National Party (SNP), followed by the Conservatives.

Bain said: "The people have had their say. They back Gordon Brown and his efforts to secure our economic recovery.

"The message for the general election is 'game on'."

Elections are due by early June 2010.(IANS)