 | 'I have received additional information about the circumstances which led to my exclusion from the Labour Party's list of approved candidates for last year's election to the Scottish Parliament. As a result, I have no confidence in the present leadership of the Labour Party and I therefore no longer wish to pursue my application to re-join the party.' Dennis Canavan, 20 th November 2000. |  |
The rebel MP announced on Monday that he had withdrawn his application to rejoin the party - sparking a Westminster by-election in his Falkirk West constituency.
Mr Canavan was expelled from the party when he stood for the Scottish Parliament as an independent after failing to win selection as Labour's Holyrood candidate.
He then left Labour facing the prospect of an unwanted by-election when he said in October that he was going to announce his resignation from the Westminster seat at the earliest opportunity.
But two weeks ago he made his first about-turn when he announced he was bidding to rejoin the party.
At that point he described reconciliation as a "distinct possibility".
He also withdrew his threat to resign from Westminster.
But on Monday he changed tack again and announced he was withdrawing the application.
"I have received additional information about the circumstances which led to my exclusion from the Labour Party's list of approved candidates for last year's election to the Scottish Parliament," he said in a letter to general secretary Margaret McDonagh.
Refused to comment
"As a result, I have no confidence in the present leadership of the Labour Party and I therefore no longer wish to pursue my application to re-join the party.
"I now intend giving up my membership of the House of Commons, as originally planned, and I have today submitted in writing my request for the necessary procedure to commence."
He has so far refused to comment further or give details of the additional information.
Holyrood sources are speculating that Mr Canavan disliked the impression that he was siding with the establishment by seeking a deal with Labour.
However, it is thought that he may give his version of events on Tuesday.
His decision leaves Labour facing a by-election it did not want - and thought it had avoided.
The party already has to contend with a double by-election in Glasgow Anniesland on Thursday, and faces a potentially tougher contest in Falkirk West.
Labour has been left baffled by the latest development.
No explanation
MP Ian Davidson, who was also embroiled in the selection row which eventually led to Mr Canavan's departure, admitted he was "astonished" by the move.
"I have no explanation for this. This has come completely out of the blue," he said.
Mr Canavan embarrassed the party in the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May last year when he stood as an independent and won by a majority of 12,000 - the largest in the parliament.
However, he was automatically expelled from the Labour Party as a result.
- Nov 21 st
Return to home page