Friends left shocked as MP returns to hospital

Published on Friday 17 July 2009 22:18

FRIENDS and colleagues have voiced shock after learning that East Lothian MP Anne Moffat has been admitted to hospital for the second time in two months.

Doctors fear that Ms Moffat has a recurrence of the bleeding on the brain which saw her hospitalised for ten days earlier in the summer.

The news that Ms Moffat, an MP since 2001, had been admitted to St Thomas Hospital in London stunned friends and colleagues in Scotland, who found out about the development in The Scotsman's sister paper, the Edinburgh Evening News.

And there were questions over whether she will be fit enough to run again, although party members expect her to remain an MP until the next general election.

The episode is the latest in an eventful period for Ms Moffat, who recently announced her engagement to East Lothian joiner Lawrence McCrann, who at the time was still married.

It is also understood she was diagnosed as a diabetic earlier this year and has received treatment for a glandular problem.

Last year she was attacked by youths while out walking and she also had to see off a threat to her political career when constituency party members tried to have her deselected. She was only saved by trade union votes.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, said everyone hoped Ms Moffat would soon be better.

He said: "I'm sorry to hear she is in hospital again and I wish her a speedy recovery."