 | 'I had previously thought ... that the people who were responsible for the selection system was a relatively small cabal of maybe less than a handful of control freaks.' Dennis Canavan reveals Tony Blair's part in his exclusion, 21 st November 2000 |  |
| 'I had previously thought ... that the people who were responsible for the selection system was a relatively small cabal of maybe less than a handful of control freaks.' Dennis Canavan reveals Tony Blair's part in his exclusion, 21 st November 2000 | |
Mr Canavan has withdrawn his application to rejoin the party, sparking a Westminster by-election in his Falkirk West constituency.
But Scotland Office Minister Brian Wilson has hit back saying "sadly Dennis has simply got his facts wrong".
He announced his decision ahead of the Glasgow Anniesland by-election on Thursday.
Mr Canavan told a news conference that since deciding to try to return to Labour, he had had a discussion with a "senior figure" in the party.
This resulted in him receiving "additional information" about the circumstances which led to his exclusion from Labour's list of approved candidates for the Scottish Parliament elections in May 1999.
He stood as an independent in Falkirk West and won with the biggest majority in the parliament.
Mr Canavan told reporters that he wrote to the prime minister in July this year asking for a meeting. The request was not granted.
He went on: "I had previously thought ... that the people who were responsible for the selection system was a relatively small cabal of maybe less than a handful of control freaks.
'Personal apology'
"But this fresh evidence indicates there was involvement at the top too."
Mr Canavan was asked if he would reconsider again if Tony Blair were to offer a personal apology.
He replied that he believed this would be unlikely and even if it did happen, he doubted whether Mr Blair would be sincere.
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, lifting the threat of a difficult by-election in Falkirk West for Labour.
Since then he had learned that senior members were given legal advice about the selection of candidates for the Scottish Parliament which showed the process was "completely flawed".
'Final decision'
Mr Canavan said he could see no way in which Mr Blair could not have known about the advice.
But Mr Wilson insisted: "Dennis' claim is quite simply untrue. I can categorically state that there was no such legal advice.
"Indeed, quite to the contrary the party was advised that its procedures were completely legal and proper."
Mr Canavan believes the dialogue between him and Labour headquarters was a "desperate attempt to stop a by-election".
The MP said his decision was final and the by-election should be held as soon as possible.
Glasgow Pollock Labour MP Ian Davidson, a supporter of Mr Canavan, said: "A lot of people have been pressing for Dennis to be re-admitted because they see that a wrong was done to him.
"Those selection panels were evidence of the worst sectarian days of New Labour to get rid of people from the party who did not fit the mould."
Mr Canavan's abandonment of his bid to rejoin Labour will come as a blow to London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who had been hoping his own parallel situation could be helped by the Independent MSP's return to the party fold.
Mr Livingstone was expelled from Labour in the spring after running - and winning - independently against the party's candidate for London mayor after he lost its controversial nomination contest for the election.
-Nov 21st
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