 | 'Whoever takes the job for Labour faces a big challenge. The area has been affected by the Labour-led city council's schools' closure programme. And, coupled with the row over MPs' expenses and the Speaker's handling of the scandal, a Labour insider said their candidate would face a "perfect storm".' Evening Times, 20 th May 2009. |  |
A BY-ELECTION in Glasgow is the last thing Labour wants, particularly after the painful defeat at the hands of the SNP last summer - but that is a gamble the party hierarchy may have to consider.
The reason is straightforward - the party's best chance of winning Michael Martin's Glasgow North East seat at Westminster would be to select his son, Paul, who represents Springburn at Holyrood.
Their constituencies cover largely the same area, with the Westminster seat taking in three additional communities in Milton, Ashfield and Keppochhill.
As Speaker, Mr Martin is impartial, owing no allegiance to any political party, but he was elected as Labour MP for Springburn in 1979 and held it through the boundary changes of 1995 under which it was renamed Glasgow North East.
It is traditional Labour territory - but so was Glasgow East until the SNP's stunning victory last summer.
Labour has to win Glasgow North East, or face the fact voters in its heartlands are turning away.
Mr Martin Jnr would be the party's best bet if he could be persuaded to stand. He has established a very good reputation as a constituency MSP and is the Labour Party spokesman on community safety at the Scottish Parliament.
Whoever takes the job for Labour faces a big challenge. The area has been affected by the Labour-led city council's schools' closure programme.
And, coupled with the row over MPs' expenses and the Speaker's handling of the scandal, a Labour insider said their candidate would face a "perfect storm".
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