Falkirk West By-election 2000

'They decided to carry on regardless, defending the indefensible. In some cases attempts were made to discredit me and thousands of pounds spent in order to stop me being elected.'
Dennis Canavan, 21 st November 2000

Labour back on ropes in fight with Canavan

By David Scott, Scottish Government Editor in the Scotsman, 22 nd November 2000

LABOUR moved swiftly last night to discount claims by rebel MP Dennis Canavan that Tony Blair was to blame for his decision to withdraw his application to rejoin the party.

Mr Canavan said that his about face was the result of "fresh evidence" showing senior party officials, including the Prime Minister, were told before last yearÕs Scottish parliament elections that the system for selecting candidates was "fundamentally flawed" and would not stand up to challenge in the courts.

The MP and MSP for Falkirk West, said the latest evidence had made him lose confidence in the Labour leadership.

His decision not to rejoin comes just two weeks after having "conciliatory" talks with Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, and Henry McLeish, the First Minister.

Mr Canavan voiced his fury at finding out that nothing had been done, at the highest level, to make it known in advance of the 1999 elections that the system was flawed.

"They decided to carry on regardless, defending the indefensible. In some cases attempts were made to discredit me and thousands of pounds spent in order to stop me being elected," he said.

But his claims were strongly denied last night by the Scotland Office minister, Brian Wilson. He said: "Sadly Dennis has simply got his facts wrong. He said he had ÔheardÕ recently that the Labour leadership had received legal advice that the selection for the Scottish parliament elections was flawed.

"DennisÕ 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."

The latest decision of Mr Canavan, who won his parliament seat as an independent, will now result in a by-election for Westminster.

At a press conference in Falkirk yesterday, he said the new evidence he had received showed that, before last yearÕs elections were held, people at "very senior level" in the party had come to the conclusion that the election system for the Scottish parliament elections was fundamentally flawed.

"That concern was reported to party headquarters in London and also to the Prime MinisterÕs office but nothing was done," Mr Canavan said.

"I have no confidence in people like that. I have no confidence in the Labour Party leadership and therefore I donÕt want to join the Labour Party under the present leadership."

The MP made it clear that he was not referring to Mr McLeish but to Mr Blair "and the people around him".

Mr Canavan, denied he had timed his announcement to cause maximum embarrassment to Labour in the last two remaining days of the Glasgow Anniesland by-election.

Asked if he might still want to rejoin the party at some time in the future, he replied: "No, This is the final decision and has been put in writing."

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