The Motherwell & Wishaw By-election

'They seek him here, They seek him there, Those Malawians seek him everywhere, Is he in Africa or Motherwell? That great big feartie, Jack McConnell.' Karinxxx in the Scotsman, 6 th October 2008.

The Motherwell & Wishaw By-election

Jack McConnell's appointment as High Commissioner to Malawi in January 2009 has been cancelled. There will therefore be no by-election in Motherwell & Wishaw.

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 52,829 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Motherwell & Wishaw: 52,829 (100 %)

Assessment

• Candidates
  
  
• Scottish Parliamentary election results in Motherwell & Wishaw 1999 - 2007
  
  
• Westminster election results in Motherwell & Wishaw in 2005 and 1987 - 2001
  
  
• European Parliamentary election results in Motherwell & Wishaw 1999 - 2004
  
  

Appointment of Jack McConnell as High Commissioner to the Republic of Malawi

1. Motherwell is a pigsty, says Jack 15 th August 2007
   
   
2. PM appoints High Commissioner to the Republic of Malawi 29 th April 2007
   
   
3. McConnell quits Labour leadership 15 th August 2007
   
   
4. Duty calls in Malawi 15 th August 2007
   
   
5. Jack McConnell to be appointed Malawi High Commissioner 16 th August 2007
   
   
6. True reward for Jack McConnell's failure 16 th August 2007
   
   
7. McConnell challenged on Malawi job over his support for gay rights 27 th August 2007
   
   
8. McConnell's missed vote infuriates Labour MSPs 30 th September 2007
   
   
9. McConnell angry over peerage delay 16 th March 2008
   
   
10. Scrutiny of Senior Diplomatic Appointments 23 rd April 2008
    
    
11. Jack McConnell under fire over delay in standing down 30 th April 2008
    
    
12. Malawi: Diplomatic Service 16 th June 2008
    
    
13. MPs urge Jack McConnell to quit parliament for Malawi post 24 th June 2008
    
    
14. Hit the road to Malawi, McConnell ordered by MPs 24 th June 2008
    
    
15. Jack McConnell to resign his seat when he becomes High Commissioner of Malawi 25 th June 2008
    
    
16. MPs urge McConnell to quit seat soon 25 th June 2008
    
    
17. By-election looms after McConnell is urged to quit as MSP 25 th June 2008
    
    
18. Jack McConnell told to quit Holyrood for African post 25 th June 2008
    
    
19. McConnell told: pick Motherwell or Malawi 6 th July 2008
    
    
20. McConnell takes on charity role 9 th July 2008
    
    
21. Jack McConnell: Should he stay or should he go? 14 th August 2008
    
    
22. Labour Rocked By Double Snub By Former First Ministers 17 th August 2008
    
    
23. Can Labour really hope to keep Jack out of Africa? 22 nd August 2008
    
    
24. By-election hope for the numbers to favour SNP 5 th September 2008
    
    
25. Choosing the best time to risk it 16 th September 2008
    
    
26. McConnell in middle of gay rights row in Malawi 28 th September 2008
    
    

Appointment of Jack McConnell to a part-time diplomatic post, working with nations recovering from conflict

On the 5 th of October 2008, in order to avoid a crucial by-election in Motherwell & Wishaw, Gordon Brown appointed Jack McConnell to a part-time diplomatic post, rather than as British High Commissioner to Malawi. This is in contradiction to the policy that diplomats can not be serving politicians.

1. McConnell post averts by-election 5 th October 2008
   
   
2. Ticking the boxes 5 th October 2008
   
   
3. New role for McConnell averts crucial by-election 5 th October 2008
   
   
4. Jack McConnell stays on to avert by-election 5 th October 2008
   
   
5. JJack Mcconnell's Africa Role Axed 'To Avoid By-Election' 5 th October 2008
   
   
6. Jack McConnell denies Gordon Brown axed Africa role to avoid by-election 5 th October 2008
   
   
7. Gay rights supporter Jack McConnell's Malawi job postponed 5 th October 2008
   
   
8. Jack, the Africa U-turn and the great 'by-election escape' 6 th October 2008
   
   
9. Unpaid part-time post for McConnell avoids by-election 6 th October 2008
   
   
10. Revised role for McConnell averts Scottish by-election 6 th October 2008
    
    
11. Peace post for McConnell 6 th October 2008
    
    
12. Glasgow East byelection result delays McConnell's move to Malawi 6 th October 2008
    
    
13. McConnell's post in Malawi to be filled 30 th October 2008
    
    

Margaret Thatcher with her new acolyte, Gordon Brown

Links

• Ex-leader accepts diplomatic job The Prime Minister Gordon Brown gives former Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell a part-time unpaid diplomatic post, working with nations recovering from conflict, 6 th October 2008