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| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Labour man quits by-election race | Labour man quits by-election race |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Labour has delayed selection of a candidate for the Glasgow East by-election after the leading contender failed to turn up for a party meeting. | Labour has delayed selection of a candidate for the Glasgow East by-election after the leading contender failed to turn up for a party meeting. |
| Shettleston Councillor George Ryan has now officially withdrawn from the contest after missing the selection meeting on Friday for "family reasons". | Shettleston Councillor George Ryan has now officially withdrawn from the contest after missing the selection meeting on Friday for "family reasons". |
| The party will hold a meeting to choose a candidate on Monday. | The party will hold a meeting to choose a candidate on Monday. |
| The by-election on 24 July was triggered when Labour MP David Marshall stood down earlier in the week. | The by-election on 24 July was triggered when Labour MP David Marshall stood down earlier in the week. |
| By-election results | By-election results |
| It was one of the safest Labour seats in Scotland at the last election, with a majority of more than 13,500 over the SNP. | It was one of the safest Labour seats in Scotland at the last election, with a majority of more than 13,500 over the SNP. |
| The constituency also had the highest Labour vote share in the city at the General Election. | The constituency also had the highest Labour vote share in the city at the General Election. |
| However, the party faces a tough fight after disastrous by-election results at Crewe and Nantwich and Henley, as well as the resignation of Wendy Alexander from the leadership of the Scottish Labour party. | However, the party faces a tough fight after disastrous by-election results at Crewe and Nantwich and Henley, as well as the resignation of Wendy Alexander from the leadership of the Scottish Labour party. |
| Mr Marshall, 67, is stepping down after almost 30 years in the House of Commons. | Mr Marshall, 67, is stepping down after almost 30 years in the House of Commons. |
| Mr Ryan said he was removing his name from the shortlist of potential candidates "with regret". | Mr Ryan said he was removing his name from the shortlist of potential candidates "with regret". |
| He said: "In the last 24 hours, I have come to recognise the pressures that this campaign would put on my family life, and I have taken the decision to put my family first." | He said: "In the last 24 hours, I have come to recognise the pressures that this campaign would put on my family life, and I have taken the decision to put my family first." |
| Labour must choose a candidate before Wednesday's deadline for nominations. | Labour must choose a candidate before Wednesday's deadline for nominations. |
| It is thought Labour MSP Margaret Curran, who has been tipped as a possible Scottish party leader, could put herself forward. | It is thought Labour MSP Margaret Curran, who has been tipped as a possible Scottish party leader, could put herself forward. |
| The combination of these extraordinary factors means that Labour have forfeited any right to represent the people of Glasgow East Alex SalmondSNP leader | The combination of these extraordinary factors means that Labour have forfeited any right to represent the people of Glasgow East Alex SalmondSNP leader |
| Scottish National Party leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said Labour was in "complete meltdown". | Scottish National Party leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said Labour was in "complete meltdown". |
| He said: "This is their 'lost weekend' - they don't have a leader in Scotland, they don't have a candidate in Glasgow East, and they have a prime minister who refuses to come to the constituency. | He said: "This is their 'lost weekend' - they don't have a leader in Scotland, they don't have a candidate in Glasgow East, and they have a prime minister who refuses to come to the constituency. |
| "The combination of these extraordinary factors means that Labour have forfeited any right to represent the people of Glasgow East." | "The combination of these extraordinary factors means that Labour have forfeited any right to represent the people of Glasgow East." |
| Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "Labour is rudderless at Westminster, leaderless at Holyrood and treating the people of Glasgow with contempt. | Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "Labour is rudderless at Westminster, leaderless at Holyrood and treating the people of Glasgow with contempt. |
| "Labour's selection process has been a sham with one candidate walking away, two others ignored, a fourth, Stephen Purcell, apparently turning it down. | "Labour's selection process has been a sham with one candidate walking away, two others ignored, a fourth, Stephen Purcell, apparently turning it down. |
| "And now rumours that Margaret Curran has been press-ganged into standing as Labour's reluctant and accidental candidate. You couldn't make it up." | "And now rumours that Margaret Curran has been press-ganged into standing as Labour's reluctant and accidental candidate. You couldn't make it up." |
| Liberal Democrat campaign chairman Robert Brown said: "This shows that the Labour Party has entirely lost its way. | |
| "Nobody knows what they stand for any more and therefore it is no surprise that they are finding it difficult to find a candidate." | |
| Selection process | Selection process |
| Scotland Office Minister David Cairns MP said: "We've seen in the past few weeks in Scotland that politics can take its toll on family life. | Scotland Office Minister David Cairns MP said: "We've seen in the past few weeks in Scotland that politics can take its toll on family life. |
| "It is for this reason that Councillor Ryan has decided to withdraw his name from our selection process, and we all understand and respect his decision." | "It is for this reason that Councillor Ryan has decided to withdraw his name from our selection process, and we all understand and respect his decision." |
| Glasgow councillor John Mason has been chosen to represent the SNP. | Glasgow councillor John Mason has been chosen to represent the SNP. |
| Maths teacher Ian Robertson will represent the Lib Dems. | Maths teacher Ian Robertson will represent the Lib Dems. |
| The Conservative candidate is Davena Rankin and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) has chosen former MSP, Frances Curran. | The Conservative candidate is Davena Rankin and the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) has chosen former MSP, Frances Curran. |
| Solidarity announced that firebrand politician Tommy Sheridan would not be standing. | Solidarity announced that firebrand politician Tommy Sheridan would not be standing. |
| There was speculation that the former MSP would be selected to fight the Westminster seat for the left-wing party which he founded. | There was speculation that the former MSP would be selected to fight the Westminster seat for the left-wing party which he founded. |
| But the party announced local woman Tricia McLeish had been selected unopposed. | But the party announced local woman Tricia McLeish had been selected unopposed. |