 | 'He has been good for this area, but you can't serve two masters (at Westminster and Edinburgh). I think his timing is more to upset Labour. What they did to him was dirty. In the Scottish Parliament elections they thought they were going to shut him out, but it didn't happen.' Robert Hodgson of Falkirk, 3 rd October 2000. |  |
Formally announcing the decision to quit Westminster politics at the heart of his constituency, he was a lone figure, unfettered by political aides or assistants.
At 11.04am, as sun filtered through the picture windows of a room at Falkirk Town Hall housing around 30 media representatives, Mr Canavan explained why he had decided to resign as an MP in a career end which saw him change the face of the constituency from a marginal Labour seat to one of the safest seats in Scotland.
Support on the streets of his constituency yesterday remained stronger than ever, but with a question mark raised over his possible successor.
Despite tough questioning from political commentators, he would not be drawn on the victor of a forthcoming by-election. With a canny eye on his role as local MSP and still nurturing the hope of reconciliation with Labour, he maintained a neutral stance, claiming it was too early to consider throwing his support behind any one candidate, although Labour boasts the only official nominee.
He insisted the people of Falkirk West would make up their own minds, as they had done so often in the past, returning him as MSP for the area last year with the biggest majority in Scotland, after Labour refused to allow him to stand as an official candidate, prompting his expulsion from the party.
Attracting the obvious attention on his decision to quit at a crucial time for Tony Blair's Government, he restated his "man of the people" image by breaking off interviews to make time for his local radio station before returning to the fray.
However, a straw poll of shoppers in Falkirk's bustling town centre yesterday revealed he was a popular figure likely to be missed on the Westminster battleground. Like the MP, they would not be drawn on the likely winner of the forthcoming by-election, but some predicted a shock for Labour, indicating continuing resentment over the treatment of Mr Canavan.
Domestic assistant Jacqueline White, 36, of Denny, claimed Mr Canavan's constituency office was regularly crowded. "I'm quite sad he's stepping down, but it's got to be his decision. We know of some people that he has helped. He is very popular. He seems to be genuinely interested in the man in the street," she explained.
Mr Robert Hodgson, 52, of Falkirk, said he believed the MP was right to step down.
"He has been good for this area, but you can't serve two masters (at Westminster and Edinburgh). I think his timing is more to upset Labour. What they did to him was dirty. In the Scottish Parliament elections they thought they were going to shut him out, but it didn't happen."
The retired BP worker said the MP carried a huge personal vote in Falkirk, but he had no idea what voters would do in Mr Canavan's absence at the ballot box.
With a political affiliation to the Scottish National Party, removals businessman Sam Queen, 45, of Falkirk, said he believed the by-election would be fought on wider issues.
"I think the people of Falkirk are happy having someone reasonably high profile representing them. He has done a reasonable job.
"The by-election is a difficult one. I think Falkirk is very Labour-orientated. If Dennis Canavan threw his support behind the SNP, I'd be delighted, but I think Labour are in for a tough time. To be honest, I think the fuel crisis will dog Labour just now."
Postal worker Ian Brown, 40, of Alva, who works in Falkirk, insisted the MP was "a very popular man" in the area. "He is one of the few people who have stuck to their guns as far as the old Labour principles are concerned. The guy gets a lot of sympathy from people in Falkirk who might support another party. He has always made a difference here.
"I think Labour are in for a shock. I think people here have decided that they have gone down the wrong path."
-Oct 3rd
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