Falkirk West By-election 2000

'I know Dennis as well as anyone in politics and I can say, without fear of contradiction, that he never wanted it to come to this. LabourÕs red blood runs in his veins; he was devastated at his rejection and, after his earthshaking Holyrood election victory, waited and waited for an olive branch. But Donald Dewar just wasnÕt big enough. Instead, insult was added to injury when the clique engineered the selection of a Pythonesque stranger, the ink not dry on his New Labour credentials, who would not recognise a social principle if it crept up and bit him, as Labour candidate for CanavanÕs heartland.'
George Galloway, Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, 8 th October 2000.

Canavan to back SSP candidate

By David Scott Scottish Government Editor in the Scotsman, 10 th October 2000

TOMMY SheridanÕs Scottish Socialist Party could receive a huge boost in the forthcoming Falkirk West by-election, with possible support coming from the sitting MP, Dennis Canavan.

The Scottish Socialists have selected a former Labour activist, Ian Hunter, to fight the Westminster seat which is being vacated by Mr Canavan.

Mr Hunter, a former Labour activist in the constituency, resigned from the party in protest at the decision not to select Mr Canavan as a Labour candidate for the Scottish parliament elections last year.

Mr Canavan decided to stand as an independent and won the seat with a majority of more than 12,000 votes. While standing down as a Westminster MP, he will continue as a member of the Scottish parliament.

Mr Canavan was not available to comment last night on suggestions that he planned to support the SSP candidate in the by-election.

But the possibility of him doing so was confidently predicted by a close colleague and friend, George Galloway, the Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin.

Writing in a Sunday newspaper, Mr Galloway said: "Although Canavan is claiming not to have made up his mind who he will support in the contest, I can confirm that he will throw his considerable popularity and energies behind Tommy SheridanÕs SSP candidate."

Mr Galloway also made an extraordinary attack on LabourÕs handling of the controversy surrounding Mr CanavanÕs non-selection and the rejection of his overtures for a reconciliation.

Directing particular criticism at Donald Dewar, the First Minister, he said: "I know Dennis as well as anyone in politics and I can say, without fear of contradiction, that he never wanted it to come to this.

"LabourÕs red blood runs in his veins; he was devastated at his rejection and, after his earthshaking Holyrood election victory, waited and waited for an olive branch.

"But Donald Dewar just wasnÕt big enough. Instead, insult was added to injury when the clique engineered the selection of a Pythonesque stranger, the ink not dry on his New Labour credentials, who would not recognise a social principle if it crept up and bit him, as Labour candidate for CanavanÕs heartland."

Mr Galloway added: "The whole Canavan calamity has been a tale of hubristic incompetence and the result will be ruinous for the authors of the tragedy."

Mr Sheridan, SSP list MSP for Glasgow, said: "As far as IÕm concerned Dennis has not made up his mind.

"He is a socialist, there is no doubt about that and IÕm sure he will evaluate that the only other socialist standing in the by-election is Ian Hunter.

Both Labour and the Scottish National Party have yet to officially select candidates for the by-election, although both parties have already made their choice for the general election.

LabourÕs general election choice is Eric Joyce, a former army major, while the SNPÕ has selected Graham Sutherland, a teacher of modern studies. The rules of both parties require a new selection process in the case of a by-election.

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