By-election, what by-election?

'More than 95 % of constituency Labour Party members voted for me to be on Labour's list but they were over-ruled by a cabal of control freaks at party headquarters. I felt I had no option but to let the people decide, and they decided by electing me to the Scottish Parliament with the biggest majority in Scotland.' Dennis Canavan in the Herald, 2 nd October 2000.

Falkirk West by-election, 21 st December 2000

Dennis Canavan on by-election

The BBC's John Morrison on by-election

'By-election was not a threat' - Canavan

Some senior Labour Party figures think he was toying with them

All this is out of the blue

'It was a win, but only just' - BBC Scotland

The result

• Labour majority slashed to just 705 over SNP

• Labour wins in Falkirk West 22 nd December 2000

• Bad news for Blair and Hague 22 nd December 2000

• Rivals hail by-election result 22 nd December 2000

• Reid hails Falkirk win 22 nd December 2000

• Close shave as Labour win Falkirk by-election 22 nd December 2000

• Scottish nationalists give Blair a by-election jolt 22 nd December 2000

Assessment

• Candidates

• Constituency assessment

• Previous electoral statistics for the Falkirk West Westminster constituency

• How Falkirk West voted in the 1999 Holyrood and European elections

• Constituency profile (BBC Scotland, 13 th December 2000)

• Nativity for a Falkirk bairn 17 th December 2000

• Links

Dennis Canavan's resignation announcement

• It is time for the people to decide 2 nd October 2000

Simply Not Good Enough

• The Holyrood Backlash 14 th June 1998

• D-Day for Canavan 5 th November 1998

• Labour rebel vows to do it his way 12 th November 1998

• A matter of principles 12 th November 1998

• Free spirit who tackles hard 12 th November 1998

• Motion that led to split with party hierarchy 12 th November 1998

• Seat is key target for SNP 12 th November 1998

• Others may face deselection 12 th November 1998

• Constituents back loyal MP 12 th November 1998

• Canavan wasn't good enough, says Dewar 13 th November 1998

• Canavan will stand twice for Holyrood 19 th November 1998

• Labour members risk expulsion to back Canavan 19 th November 1998

• Socialist Party tries to capitalise on Canavan 19 th November 1998

• Martin is candidate for Falkirk West 7 th December 1998

• Support pledged for Canavan 11 th December 1998

• The heavy brigade make light of Canavan question 6 th January 1999

• Canavan mocks 'Donald's donkeys' 19 th January 1999

• Canavan's new Labour problem 2 nd February 1999

• Labour dispute takes to the streets 2 nd February 1999

• Assault on Canavan misfires 15 th February 1999

• Canavan undermined by Whitton 23 rd February 1999

• Canavan to form left-wing alliance after election 18 th March 1999

• Canavan's unhappy divorce 7 th May 1999

• Canavan and the control freaks 7 th May 1999

  By-election news

• SNP set for Battle of Falkirk 3 rd August 1999

• Labour positive over by-election 2 nd October 2000

• By-election test as SNP catches up on Labour 2 nd October 2000

• Lines drawn for bitter by-election 3 rd October 2000

• Canavan not losing sleep over SNP 3 rd October 2000

• Parties galvanised into action 3 rd October 2000

• A man of independent mind 3 rd October 2000

• Defector to SNP is 'dark horse' in poll 5 th October 2000

• Canavan to support SSP 9 th October 2000

• Swinney to take charge of Falkirk by-election 10 th October 2000

• Editor makes by-election move 18 th October 2000

• Ex-editor chosen to fight Falkirk West 18 th October 2000

• Canavan ally welcomes reunion talks 1 st November 2000

• Rebel Canavan in secret talks on by-election threat 2 nd November 2000

• Labour may readmit Canavan 2 nd November 2000

• Canavan re–applies for Labour membership 3 rd November 2000

• Rebel seeks return to fold 3 rd November 2000

• An independence to savour 6 th November 2000

• Canavan abandons bid to rejoin Labour 20 th November 2000

• Canavan to lift lid on U-turn 21 st November 2000

• Labour poll turmoil as Canavan sinks deal 21 st November 2000

• 'Blair blocked me' - Canavan 21 st November 2000

• Canavan attack provokes anger 22 nd November 2000

• Labour back on ropes in fight with Canavan 22 nd November 2000

• December 21 likely date for Falkirk poll 23 rd November 2000

• Labour plans pre-Christmas by-election in Canavan's seat 25 th November 2000

• Labour prepares to pull a fast one in Falkirk 27 th November 2000

• Labour to name Falkirk date 28 th November 2000

• Falkirk West by-election set to be called 29 th November 2000

• Date named for Canavan by-election 29 th November 2000

• Parties line up for the battle of Falkirk 30 th November 2000

• The ghost of Canavan haunts opening day of campaign 30 th November 2000

• Tories name Falkirk West candidate 1 st December 2000

• Late move for Tories in Falkirk 1 st December 2000

• By-election battle warms up 4 th December 2000

• Bid to open up the Falkirk race 5 th December 2000

• SNP launch by-election attack on trips abroad 6 th December 2000

• Candidates go head-to-head for Falkirk West 6 th December 2000

• SNP plays the wealth card 7 th December 2000

• SSP candidate ends up in cell 7 th December 2000

• Five join battle for Falkirk 7 th December 2000

• By-election nominations close 8 th December 2000

• Heat is turned up in Falkirk 8 th December 2000

• The rivals pitch in 11 th December 2000

• Candidates face the public 12 th December 2000

• Falkirk rivals cry foul over prime time TV 12 th December 2000

• Voters make Christmas wish list 13 th December 2000

• Labour and SNP clash over tax and education 13 th December 2000

• Canavan declines to endorse any candidate 14 th December 2000

• TV watchdog backs Falkirk air time plea 15 th December 2000

• Vote? we're too busy 17 th December 2000

• Sheridan misses out on TV debate 17 th December 2000

• Santas, jail, and a dog in the manger 18 th December 2000

• Candidates at odds over tuition fees 19 th December 2000

• Falkirk election video row 19 th December 2000

• Falkirk 'feeling the squeeze' 20 th December 2000

• End game in by-election battle 20 th December 2000

• Nationalists set to challenge Labour 21 st December 2000

• Low turnout at by-election 21 st December 2000

• By-election alarm as polling cards go missing in the post 22 ndDecember 2000

Articles by Dennis Canavan

• The curious sayings of General George by Dennis Canavan

• Canavan sees Liddell as Labour's Thatcher 24 th March 1999

• It's the democratic principle that gets my vote 10 th January 2000