 | 'John Smith introduced the principle of one-member, one-vote. But it seems OMOV is OK only as long as they can predict the result.' Dennis Canavan MP, 18 th January 1999. |  |
| 'John Smith introduced the principle of one-member, one-vote. But it seems OMOV is OK only as long as they can predict the result.' Dennis Canavan MP, 18 th January 1999. | |
He was commenting on the selection process which had put leadership favourites and relative unknowns at the head of the party's regional lists, giving a second chance to applicants who had been rejected by local constituencies.
With the new Central Scotland list due to be declared last night in Motherwell, Mr Canavan lambasted the selection system.
"John Smith introduced the principle of one-member, one-vote. But it seems OMOV is OK only as long as they can predict the result," he said.
Criticising a process overseen by Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar and his party's general secretary Alex Rowley, Mr Canavan said: "The electorate will see through this charade. It's fast becoming a joke. The people on that list will be Donald's donkeys and Alex daleks."
Speaking of last night's meeting in Motherwell, he said his constituency party secretary had only been told about it last Friday, making it impossible to canvas local opinion and demonstrating absolute contempt in which they hold the party.
"This is a list drawn up by a cabal. There is nothing new about such tactics. They are not New Labour. All of these things used to happen years ago."
Engineering union official Bill Tynan was being tipped for a place high on the Central Scotland list.
He was narrowly pipped by former general secretary Jack McConnell in the Motherwell and Wishaw seat after a controversial vote in which some papers were deemed invalid. - Jan 19
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