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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Devine could trigger by-election | Devine could trigger by-election |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour MP Jim Devine has warned he may force a by-election in his Livingston constituency after being deselected by the party over his expenses claims. | Labour MP Jim Devine has warned he may force a by-election in his Livingston constituency after being deselected by the party over his expenses claims. |
| He maintained he had done nothing wrong and claimed he had been "hung out to dry" after an internal investigation. | He maintained he had done nothing wrong and claimed he had been "hung out to dry" after an internal investigation. |
| Mr Devine said he was also considering staying on until the next election and then standing as an independent. | Mr Devine said he was also considering staying on until the next election and then standing as an independent. |
| He was deselected over claims of about £4,500 for rewiring and joinery work at his flat. | He was deselected over claims of about £4,500 for rewiring and joinery work at his flat. |
| The MP was alleged to have submitted receipts for £2,157 of electrical work from a company that does not exist. | The MP was alleged to have submitted receipts for £2,157 of electrical work from a company that does not exist. |
| It is, in truth, an ignoble ending to a relatively brief parliamentary career Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor's blog | It is, in truth, an ignoble ending to a relatively brief parliamentary career Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor's blog |
| He maintained the electrician he employed provided false information. | |
| Mr Devine, 56, said the man must have been trying to avoid paying tax by providing a false VAT number, and he had notified the Commons fees office when he found out about it. | Mr Devine, 56, said the man must have been trying to avoid paying tax by providing a false VAT number, and he had notified the Commons fees office when he found out about it. |
| Questions were also raised about 66 metres of office shelving, said to have been provided by the landlord of his local pub, for which he charged the taxpayer £2,326. | Questions were also raised about 66 metres of office shelving, said to have been provided by the landlord of his local pub, for which he charged the taxpayer £2,326. |
| Mr Devine's constituents in West Lothian had mixed views about his position | |
| His explanations did not convince Labour's special endorsement's panel, which decided unanimously that his career should be brought to an end. | His explanations did not convince Labour's special endorsement's panel, which decided unanimously that his career should be brought to an end. |
| He was elected MP for Livingston in September 2005 following the death of Robin Cook. | He was elected MP for Livingston in September 2005 following the death of Robin Cook. |
| Mr Devine had previously been Mr Cook's election agent, and had worked as head of health for the Scottish branch of the public sector union Unison. | Mr Devine had previously been Mr Cook's election agent, and had worked as head of health for the Scottish branch of the public sector union Unison. |
| He is the fifth Labour MP to be deselected. | He is the fifth Labour MP to be deselected. |