 | 'I now intend giving up my membership of the House of Commons, as originally planned, and I have today submitted in writing my request for the necessary procedure to commence.' Dennis Canavan, 20 th November 2000. |  |
| 'I now intend giving up my membership of the House of Commons, as originally planned, and I have today submitted in writing my request for the necessary procedure to commence.' Dennis Canavan, 20 th November 2000. | |
The Falkirk West MP and MSP said earlier this month that he believed reconciliation with the party was a "distinct possibility".
But on Monday he made the shock announcement that he was withdrawing the application.
"I have received additional information about the circumstances which led to my exclusion from the Labour Party's list of approved candidates for last year's election to the Scottish Parliament," he said in a letter to general secretary Margaret McDonagh.
"As a result, I have no confidence in the present leadership of the Labour Party and I therefore no longer wish to pursue my application to re-join the party.
"I now intend giving up my membership of the House of Commons, as originally planned, and I have today submitted in writing my request for the necessary procedure to commence."
However, he has so far refused to comment further or give details of the additional information.
The move - only three days before the Anniesland by-election - leaves Labour facing a potentially tricky contest in Falkirk West.
Mr Canavan said in October that he was going to announce his resignation from the Westminster seat at the earliest opportunity.
His first about-face came two weeks ago when he said he was bidding to rejoin the party.
Distinct possibility
He told a news conference: "You may remember that on the day I was elected to the Scottish Parliament I expressed regret that I was no longer a member of the party in which I was virtually born and bred, and I referred to the hope of reconciliation.
"As a result of the discussions I have had over the past few weeks I am now led to believe that reconciliation is a distinct possibility."
Mr Canavan had held secret talks involving Chancellor Gordon Brown, Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish and senior Labour party officials.
On Monday, Mr McLeish said discussions with Mr Canavan had been going on for some time.
"Dennis Canavan said that he wanted to re-join the party and the conditions had been created for him to do so, provided he accepted the responsibilities that come with party membership.
"His application to re-join had been received by the Labour Party.
"The party is happy to discuss the matter further with him, and so am I, but it is now a matter for Dennis Canavan to explain why he has made this decision."
Scotland Office Minister Brian Wilson said: "I have no idea why he has changed his mind again.
"I don't think this can be portrayed as an high principal, because you can't have one high principal one week and another the next.
"He has probably got some explanation and I hope he understands it, because I don't think many people will."
Labour MP Ian Davidson, who was also embroiled in the selection row which eventually led to Mr Canavan's departure, admitted he was "astonished" by the move.
"I have no explanation for this. This has come completely out of the blue," he said.
However, the Scottish National Party's deputy leader Roseanna Cunningham described the announcement as "a complete body blow for Labour".
She said: "I would imagine Labour are panic-stricken right now. They will probably be in meltdown."
And Tory MSP Raymond Robertson said: "Everything Henry McLeish has touched since becoming first minister has ended up a disaster.
First hurdle
"The Labour Party in Scotland is tonight in turmoil and the blame lies at Henry McLeish's door."
Monday's announcement came as Mr Canavan had cleared the first hurdle towards being accepted back into the party.
The organisational sub-committee of Labour's national executive committee met on Monday and agreed that Mr Canavan's re-admission could be considered next week.
Mr Canavan embarrassed the party in the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May last year when he stood as an independent and won by a majority of 12,000 - the largest in the parliament.
However, he was automatically expelled from the Labour Party as a result.
- Nov 20 th
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