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Labour leader challenger awaited Alexander remains only candidate
(about 7 hours later)
A challenger for the leadership of the Labour Party in Scotland could emerge after a meeting of the party's left. A move to secure a left wing candidate to challenge Wendy Alexander's bid to become the Scottish Labour Party's new leader has failed.
The Campaign for Socialism group will gather in Glasgow to determine whether to put someone forward to contest Wendy Alexander's candidacy for the post. The Campaign for Socialism group said it had secured nominations from four MSPs to make a challenge.
Bookmakers have stopped taking bets on Paisley North MSP Ms Alexander taking Scotland's top Labour post. But that falls short of the six MSPs which are required.
She launched her leadership campaign on Friday. Her main rivals, Andy Kerr and Margaret Curran, have stood aside. Ms Alexander, the Paisley North MSP, is so far the only name in the frame. A challenger would have to be found by the close of nominations on Tuesday.
A leadership candidate requires the nomination of at least six MSPs. About 300 members of the Campaign for Socialism - which includes five Labour MSPs - met in Glasgow on Sunday to determine whether they had the necessary support for a challenger.
The Campaign for Socialism, which has about 300 members, including five MSPs, is to meet on Sunday afternoon. Gordon McKay, the group's spokesman, maintained it was important that the party had an opportunity for a debate on various policy areas - and said his members would be pushing for that regardless of the leadership result.
Leadership race We are two MSPs short of getting a name on a ballot paper, therefore at the moment we do not have a candidate Gordon McKayCampaign for Socialism
Three of the left-wing group's MSPs, Glasgow Anniesland's Bill Butler; Coatbridge and Chryston's Elaine Smith and North East Scotland representative Marlyn Glen, are among those who could potentially stand for the leadership post. He said: "It is important that the party has a debate around the issues affecting Scotland - poverty, privatisation, a sustainable economy and devolution of power.
Former Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell resigned on Wednesday with immediate effect. "We believe a leadership election is an opportunity for debate.
His resignation followed the party's defeat at the hands of the SNP in the Holyrood election in May. "MSPs however are the gatekeepers to this process and they can allow or prevent that debate from taking place.
Ms Alexander is the only declared candidate so far in the race to succeed Mr McConnell, and launched her campaign with a warning of the need for the party to change. "Currently there are four MSPs willing to support that process and support a challenge based on traditional Labour values and those articulated by the trade union movement.
May election
"We are two MSPs short of getting a name on a ballot paper, therefore at the moment we do not have a candidate.
"However, we still hope this can happen and we will continue this campaign until Tuesday."
Ms Alexander, who is the sister of Westminster MP and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, launched her campaign on Friday.
Former Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell resigned last Wednesday with immediate effect.
It followed the party's defeat at the hands of the SNP in May's Holyrood election.