Labour set to begin search for Devine's replacement

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 10:34

LABOUR activists in Jim Devine's Livingston constituency will meet this weekend to begin the process of choosing a new candidate to defend the seat at the next election, with at least five hopefuls thought to be in the running.

It was still unclear today whether Mr Devine – deselected by party bosses over expenses allegations – plans to quit immediately and force a by-election or carry on until the general election, which must be held within the next year.

Labour insiders fear a by-election would allow the SNP to take the seat, but believe the party could hold on to it at the general election.

Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook had a healthy 13,097 majority at the last general election in 2005. But at the by-election following his death later that year, Labour's winning margin was cut to 2,680. The SNP won the Livingston seat in the 2007 Holyrood election.

At least five would-be candidates with strong local connections are expected to throw their hats into the ring to take Mr Devine's place.

A front-runner, if he chose to stand, could be John Duncan, who served as constituency assistant to Robin Cook and was runner-up to Mr Devine when the local party was choosing the candidate for the by-election.

Mr Duncan said: "I am considering my position and discussing the matter with friends and supporters."

One local party source said: "There were a lot of people who would have voted for John if it had not been that Jim was seen as representing Robin's legacy."

Mr Duncan has since moved to Ayr and stood there in the 2007 Holyrood election. But an insider said the fact he had been away from the constituency and not linked to Mr Devine would be an advantage.

Other likely contenders include former West Lothian council leader Graeme Morrice; Kevin Lindsay, Scottish officer for rail union ASLEF, who lives in the constituency; Fauldhouse councillor Neil Findlay; and two councillors who put their names forward for the 2005 by-election, Willie Dunn and John McGinty.

Former Livingston MSP Bristow Muldoon, who lost his seat to the SNP two years ago, ruled himself out of the running.

However, the Labour Party at national level could decide to order an all-women shortlist.

Such a move might only add to the problems which the local party already faces. One Labour source said it was "unlikely" the party would insist on such a move in a case when the constituency was in such turmoil.

Mr Devine's deselection by Labour's "star chamber" followed allegations he had submitted a claim for rewiring his London flat which bore a bogus VAT number and the name of a company which did not exist. Questions were also raised about shelving work said to have been carried out by the landlord of his local pub. Mr Devine denied any wrongdoing and complained he had been the victim of a "kangaroo court".