No Labour challenge over election

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Labour has announced that it will not mount a legal challenge to a Scottish election result which cost a minister his seat.

Former Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson saw his Cunninghame North seat fall to the SNP who took it by a majority of just 48 in the Holyrood elections.

More than 1,000 votes were rejected in Cunninghame North.

Labour said the independent inquiry ordered by the Electoral Commission should be adequate.

Thousands of papers were rejected, possibly as a result of voter confusion due to the design of the ballot paper.

Deep concern

Labour lawyers had been considering a possible challenge but the party said it had now decided against this.

The independent inquiry will look into the wider Holyrood voting debacle.

A party spokesman said: "Having reflected upon the situation in Cunninghame North, the Labour party believes that the difficulties experienced at the count are best reviewed as part of the Electoral Commission's independent inquiry.

"The Labour Party is sensitive to the feelings of is members in Cunninghame North, and shares their deep concern."

He added: "We remain convinced that a full and independent examination of all the circumstances contributing to the difficulties is the most appropriate mechanism to establish the facts."