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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour by-election 'lost weekend' | Labour by-election 'lost weekend' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Labour opponents in the Glasgow East by-election have poured scorn on the party's "lost weekend" after it failed to select a candidate. | Labour opponents in the Glasgow East by-election have poured scorn on the party's "lost weekend" after it failed to select a candidate. |
| Holyrood MSP Margaret Curran could now be endorsed to contest the Westminster seat on 24 July, after frontrunner George Ryan pulled out of the race. | Holyrood MSP Margaret Curran could now be endorsed to contest the Westminster seat on 24 July, after frontrunner George Ryan pulled out of the race. |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond said Labour was in "complete meltdown". | SNP leader Alex Salmond said Labour was in "complete meltdown". |
| Former Scottish Labour spin doctor Lorraine Davidson said defeat would spell the end for the prime minister. | Former Scottish Labour spin doctor Lorraine Davidson said defeat would spell the end for the prime minister. |
| Poll ratings | Poll ratings |
| The Glasgow East by-election was sparked by the resignation on health grounds of David Marshall, who had a majority of more than 13,500. | The Glasgow East by-election was sparked by the resignation on health grounds of David Marshall, who had a majority of more than 13,500. |
| Labour had hoped to select local councillor George Ryan as its candidate on Friday night but he failed to turn up for the meeting. | Labour had hoped to select local councillor George Ryan as its candidate on Friday night but he failed to turn up for the meeting. |
| He pulled out of the contest to prevent "pressures" on his family life. | He pulled out of the contest to prevent "pressures" on his family life. |
| Former Scottish cabinet minister Margaret Curran, currently a Glasgow MSP, then announced she was adding her name to the shortlist. | Former Scottish cabinet minister Margaret Curran, currently a Glasgow MSP, then announced she was adding her name to the shortlist. |
| A final decision on the candidate is expected to be taken on Monday evening. | A final decision on the candidate is expected to be taken on Monday evening. |
| However, the confusion will do little to raise the party's morale after heavy by-election losses in Crewe and Henley, disastrous poll ratings, and the resignation of its leader in Scotland, Wendy Alexander. | However, the confusion will do little to raise the party's morale after heavy by-election losses in Crewe and Henley, disastrous poll ratings, and the resignation of its leader in Scotland, Wendy Alexander. |
| Defeat in the previously rock-solid Labour heartland of Glasgow East could put Mr Brown's leadership under unbearable strain. | Defeat in the previously rock-solid Labour heartland of Glasgow East could put Mr Brown's leadership under unbearable strain. |
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| Former Scottish Labour spin doctor Lorraine Davidson says Gordon Brown's future is at stake in Glasgow | |
| Ms Davidson, who now works as a political columnist and journalist, said: "I think it's as simple as this: if Labour loses the Glasgow East by-election I think Gordon Brown is finished. | Ms Davidson, who now works as a political columnist and journalist, said: "I think it's as simple as this: if Labour loses the Glasgow East by-election I think Gordon Brown is finished. |
| "Because it basically means that anyone in the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) with a majority of less than 13,500 is going to say, 'if Gordon Brown's the leader, we're away as well'. | "Because it basically means that anyone in the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) with a majority of less than 13,500 is going to say, 'if Gordon Brown's the leader, we're away as well'. |
| "You're really talking the bulk of the PLP. It's complete and utter meltdown. | "You're really talking the bulk of the PLP. It's complete and utter meltdown. |
| "So if Glasgow East is lost I think you will see a challenge to Gordon Brown. I just do not see how he can survive it." | "So if Glasgow East is lost I think you will see a challenge to Gordon Brown. I just do not see how he can survive it." |
| However, Ms Davidson added that she did not feel there was the same desire to give the government a "good kicking" as she had detected at recent by-election defeats. | However, Ms Davidson added that she did not feel there was the same desire to give the government a "good kicking" as she had detected at recent by-election defeats. |
| Political opponents immediately seized on the situation as evidence that Labour was in "meltdown". | Political opponents immediately seized on the situation as evidence that Labour was in "meltdown". |
| 'Deeply-committed' | 'Deeply-committed' |
| Mr Salmond, Scotland's first minister, said his party was off to a "flying start" after Labour's "lost weekend". | Mr Salmond, Scotland's first minister, said his party was off to a "flying start" after Labour's "lost weekend". |
| He said: "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: "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." |
| Liberal Democrat campaign chairman, Robert Brown said: "Nobody knows what they stand for any more and, therefore, it is no surprise that they are finding it difficult to find a candidate." | Liberal Democrat campaign chairman, Robert Brown said: "Nobody knows what they stand for any more and, therefore, it is no surprise that they are finding it difficult to find a candidate." |
| Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie claimed Ms Curran had been "pressganged" into standing. | Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie claimed Ms Curran had been "pressganged" into standing. |
| But Ms Curran, Labour's health spokeswoman at Holyrood, said: "I have decided to do this because I'm deeply committed to the communities of the east end of Glasgow. | But Ms Curran, Labour's health spokeswoman at Holyrood, said: "I have decided to do this because I'm deeply committed to the communities of the east end of Glasgow. |
| "I am hoping to be the Labour nominee in order that we have a spirited campaign in the by-election." | "I am hoping to be the Labour nominee in order that we have a spirited campaign in the by-election." |