Falkirk West By-election 2000

'The words 'New Labour' have become an embarrassment to most Labour Party supporters.' Mark Seddon, member of Labour's National Executive Committee, 17 th September 2000.

Canavan ally welcomes reunion talks

From BBC Scotland, 1 st November 2000

Ian Davidson said the MP and MSP for Falkirk West was treated "shamefully" by the party and should be readmitted to the fold.

Both Mr Davidson and Mr Canavan were rejected as candidates for the Scottish Parliament elections and the subsequent row led to Mr Canavan's decision to sever links with the party and stand as an independent.

Glasgow Pollok MP Mr Davidson said it was up to the party to hold out an olive branch to Mr Canavan, who won the Scottish Parliament seat for Falkirk West last year with a massive majority.

He said: "I think that Dennis was treated shamefully over the whole business of the selection and I suppose I had a natural involvement in that so I strongly believe that.

"It would seem to me that it is in the interests of the Labour Party in Scotland that Dennis campaigns for us."

Mr Canavan said last month that he was going to announce his resignation from the Westminster seat at the earliest opportunity.

However, a delay prompted speculation that he was reconsidering his position and Labour sources have confirmed that secret talks have taken place with Mr Canavan.

It is understood that senior party members in Scotland and the Chancellor Gordon Brown have been involved.

Automatically expelled

Labour wants to avoid a potentially tricky by-election in Falkirk West.

Mr Canavan embarrassed the party in the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May last year when he won by a majority of 12,000 - the largest in the parliament.

However, he was automatically expelled from the Labour Party as a result.

Mr Canavan said he had made every effort to seek a reconciliation with Labour but had been rebuffed at the very highest levels.

However, circumstances have changed since the death of the late Scottish Labour leader Donald Dewar.

There was considerable personal animosity between the two men but relations with interim party leader Henry McLeish are understood to be more cordial.

Labour officials want to persuade him to hang on as MP until the next general election.

It is a difficult position for the Labour Party. Some members feel he should not be given a second chance.

Others do not want to see an irretrievable breakdown with a man who was a committed member of the party.

Senior members insist no deals have been done and that the decision lies entirely with Mr Canavan.

BBC Scotland chief political correspondent John Morrison said the longer Mr Canavan takes to announce his decision "the more it seems he's in two minds about resigning".