Falkirk West By-election 2000

'It is quite clear that, if the present mood of intolerance remains, the leadership are likely to seek to remove all those with dissenting ideas.' Labour MP for Glasgow Pollok, Ian Davidson, 11 th November 1998.

Others may face deselection

By Murray Ritchie in the Herald, 12 th November 1998

Mr Davidson was rejected along with Dennis Canavan for the list of Labour's approved candidates for the Scottish Parliament.

He said last night: "I still hope Dennis Canavan is elected to the Scottish Parliament as Labour candidate. Even at this late stage I hope the Labour Party will repent and recognise the injustice which has been done and accept him as the Labour candidate."

He predicted that Westminster MPs could be blocked from re-selection in the present climate in the party. "It is quite clear that, if the present mood of intolerance remains, the leadership are likely to seek to remove all those with dissenting ideas. But I hope that saner counsels will prevail and that the Labour Party will remain a broadly-based organisation."

Meanwhile, it emerged last night that a group including left-wing MPs, trade unionists and worried party activists had met to discuss how to combat the growing power of the Blairite Network group in Scotland. The broad Left of the party is said to be confused and dismayed at the so-called cull of dissidents, real or imagined in Scottish Labour, but uncertain how to put up resistance.

One of the critical figures emerging from the internal upheaval in the party is left-winger John McAllion, MP for Dundee East. The veteran Home Ruler was accepted for the list after strong speculation that his exclusion, Canavan-style, would have split the party.

One dissident said: "In the midst of all this talk by groups and factions, it is clear that John was allowed on to the list to avoid a damaging division.

"The party did not have the nerve to reject him. They let him into the tent because they knew that as long as he was inside, then any breakaway force would be divided. But Dennis's decision increases the pressure on the leadership."

Party managers are putting on a brave face about the probable consequences of the Canavan crisis, pointing out that other Labour rebels who fought the party failed over the years, including Jim Sillars. But privately they are gloomy.

One said: "Our fear is that the Nats will make an enormous amount of mileage from this mess. We have to accept that we appear to be in for an extremely unedifying period. We will be presenting ourselves in an extremely poor light." - Nov 12