Ian Swanson - Women-only shortlist expected
LABOUR Party bosses are due to decide today whether to have a women-only shortlist when it comes to choosing the party's candidate for Edinburgh East at the next general election, when Gavin Strang will stand down.
The local party has made clear it would prefer an open contest, but there is a widespread expectation the Labour NEC will rule in favour of women-only.
That would leave former Edinburgh Lord Provost Lesley Hinds as the frontrunner, assuming she decides to go for it.
She has so far remained silent about her intentions, but has not been shy about her support for an all-women shortlist.
She says: "We have no women MPs in Edinburgh and there are very few in Scotland. My understanding of Labour Party rules is that if a seat becomes vacant there should be a women-only shortlist unless there is some special reason. As far as I’m aware there are no special circumstances in Edinburgh East. I’m sure there would be plenty good women would be interested.”
Other women whose names have been mentioned as possible contenders include three city councillors - Norma Hart, Angela Blacklock and Maureen Child - as well as lawyer Carol Fox, sister of Scottish Socialist Party leader Colin Fox; former trade union official Lesley Sutherland; and ex-councillor Lezley Cameron.
If the NEC were to decide in favour of an open contest, constituency secretary Mike Robb, former student leader Rami Okasha and councillor Ian Murray are all expected to throw their hats in the ring.
Gavin Strang, MP for Edinburgh East since 1970, had a majority of 6202 at the last general election. But the seat is no longer viewed as safe following the SNP's victory in the equivalent constituency at the last Holyrood elections.
The Nationalists already have George Kerevan - one-time Labour councillor and now Scotsman associate editor and fellow blogger on this site - in place as their candidate.
The local party has made clear it would prefer an open contest, but there is a widespread expectation the Labour NEC will rule in favour of women-only.
That would leave former Edinburgh Lord Provost Lesley Hinds as the frontrunner, assuming she decides to go for it.
She has so far remained silent about her intentions, but has not been shy about her support for an all-women shortlist.
She says: "We have no women MPs in Edinburgh and there are very few in Scotland. My understanding of Labour Party rules is that if a seat becomes vacant there should be a women-only shortlist unless there is some special reason. As far as I’m aware there are no special circumstances in Edinburgh East. I’m sure there would be plenty good women would be interested.”
Other women whose names have been mentioned as possible contenders include three city councillors - Norma Hart, Angela Blacklock and Maureen Child - as well as lawyer Carol Fox, sister of Scottish Socialist Party leader Colin Fox; former trade union official Lesley Sutherland; and ex-councillor Lezley Cameron.
If the NEC were to decide in favour of an open contest, constituency secretary Mike Robb, former student leader Rami Okasha and councillor Ian Murray are all expected to throw their hats in the ring.
Gavin Strang, MP for Edinburgh East since 1970, had a majority of 6202 at the last general election. But the seat is no longer viewed as safe following the SNP's victory in the equivalent constituency at the last Holyrood elections.
The Nationalists already have George Kerevan - one-time Labour councillor and now Scotsman associate editor and fellow blogger on this site - in place as their candidate.
Labels: Ian Swanson
posted by Administrator at
08:29
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home