 | 'Several Tories feared that Mr Murray, who wore a monocle in his student days, fitted the "Toryboy" stereotype too closely.' Fraser Nelson in the Times, 1 st December 2000. |  |
| 'Several Tories feared that Mr Murray, who wore a monocle in his student days, fitted the "Toryboy" stereotype too closely.' Fraser Nelson in the Times, 1 st December 2000. | |
The party has withdrawn its support for Simon Murray, who contested the seat at the general election. It hopes to choose his replacement tonight then join the by-election battle a week behind Labour and the Scottish National Party.
The Scottish Tories said that they chose to wait until the by- election writ was moved before making preparations. This happened on Wednesday. "There is nothing unusual about what we're doing," the Conservatives said. "We will have our candidate two days after the election was called. That is a quick turnaround."
Several Tories feared that Mr Murray, who wore a monocle in his student days, fitted the "Toryboy" stereotype too closely.
Labour chose Eric Joyce, a former Army Major expelled for criticising the military, in May. The SNP chose David Kerr, the former editor of Newsnight Scotland, the week after Mr Canavan resigned. It ditched its previous candidate who, like Mr Murray, had been lined up for a general election fight.
It emerged yesterday that a candidate is to stand at the by-election in support of Falkirk Football Club, which last year won the First Division league but was denied promotion because its stadium was in such bad condition.
Falkirk fans have been told that even if they win the league this year they cannot join Scotland's Premier League unless they produce a 10,000-seat stadium.
George Craig, a local businessman, is to stand for the newly formed Back the Bairns Fair Play for Falkirk party.
His candidature has shaken other political parties, whose strategists are aware that Falkirk West voters forsook party politics and returned Dennis Canavan with a 12,200 majority over new Labour's candidate in last year's Scottish elections.
The by-election will be held on December 21.
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