Glasgow Cathcart by-election 2005

'Until yesterday, Watson consistently denied being refused drink or being involved in unseemly behaviour towards staff.' Iain Wilson and Tom Gordon in the Herald, 2 nd September 2005.

Labour in turmoil as favourites pull out

Tom Gordon, Scottish Political Correspondent, in the Herald 7 th September 2005

LABOUR'S by-election campaign for Glasgow Cathcart began to unravel last night, as two of Jack McConnell's favourites for the party's candidacy dropped out.

Charan Gill, the millionaire entrepreneur who was asked by the first minister to enter politics, and Sarah Miller, a worker at party HQ, both quit in advance of Friday's selection. The race is to replace Lord Watson, the disgraced MSP who faces jail for starting a fire at a hotel.

Mr Gill, 50, who joined the Labour party only this week, provoked a backlash among activists in Cathcart, who felt Labour was trying to parachute in a rookie candidate. Many took the first minister's support of Mr Gill as an implied insult about the lack of talent in the constituency party.

Despite coming from a Labour-voting family, Mr Gill was accused of carpet bagging. Last night, the founder of the Ashoka restaurant chain said he had been told Labour would not make an exception to its usual rules on candidates and allow him to enter the race.

The rules say the demand for party membership of one year can be waived in certain circumstances.

He said: "I'm very disappointed. I was under the impression that they would, but I have been told that the circumstances are such that they would not make an exception."

In a further development last night Pat Lally, the 79-year-old former lord provost of Glasgow, said he was considering running as a hospital campaigner in the by-election. Mr Lally said it was "50-50" whether he would stand to oppose acute service cuts at the local Victoria Infirmary.

In the 2003 Holyrood elections, he polled 2500 votes, or 11%, when he ran as a Local Health Concern candidate in Cathcart. With Labour trying to defend a majority of 5000 and the SNP requiring an 11% swing to win, his entry could upset all the parties' electoral arithmetic.

Mr Lally, said that, if he stood, he would expect his share of the vote to increase above 11%, given the spotlight a by-election can throw on local issues.

He said: "I have been asked by one or two people to stand and I'm thinking about it." At 79, the man dubbed Lazarus for his political comebacks said he was definitely fit enough for another fight.

Today's shortlist is expected to include Charles Gordon, former Glasgow City Council leader, and Stephen Curran, a city councillor. Bill Miller, the former MEP, could also be shortlisted.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservative party last night announced its candidate for the by-election triggered by the death of Robin Cook, former foreign secretary.

Gordon Lindhurst, 38, a lawyer who lives in West Lothian, will stand in the Livingston by-election, which is expected to take on place on September 29.

Labour has selected Mr Cook's election agent Jim Devine, 52. The SNP has selected Angela Constance, who came second to Mr Cook in the May general election.