'Stitch-up' as SNP's fourth choice to fight by-election

Published on Friday 17 July 2009 00:31

SNP members have been left with no choice but to select a candidate they rejected just last week to stand in a by-election.

In a remarkable turn-around, former BBC journalist David Kerr is set to be made the SNP's fourth-choice candidate for the Glasgow North East seat vacated by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin.

Mr Kerr, 35, is the only name on the shortlist for local party members to vote on today, in what has already been branded a "stitch-up".

And the former Newsnight assistant editor's coronation as candidate has been taken as further evidence of First Minister Alex Salmond's absolute power over the party.

Mr Kerr was Mr Salmond's preferred candidate, but last week local party members selected a Glasgow councillor, James Dornan, instead.

However, Mr Dornan, who was the favoured candidate of deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon, the MSP for Glasgow Govan, had to rapidly step down after it emerged he broke charity rules by being a trustee while he was declared bankrupt.

At the time, there were accusations within the Glasgow party that Mr Dornan was bundled out so that Mr Salmond's favoured candidate could get the nod.

But it seemed at one point this week that Mr Kerr was about to step aside because of the embarrassment caused by the furore surrounding the nomination.

The farcical selection procedure mirrored Labour's nightmare this time last year when Glasgow MSP Margaret Curran emerged as their fifth-choice candidate for the Glasgow East by-election. This was seen as a key factor in her defeat to Nationalist John Mason.

Already in Glasgow North East, another city councillor, Grant Thoms, stepped down when it emerged he was the author of a controversial blog.

The original Glasgow North East candidate, Anne McLaughlin, stepped down when she replaced the late Bashir Ahmad as a Glasgow list MSP.

Last night Labour, which has picked Willie Bains as its candidate, called the selection a "stitch-up" and pointed out that Mr Kerr had no local credentials.

"This is an insult to democracy, imposed by the SNP HQ in Edinburgh," a spokesman said. "They couldn't find a local candidate and now the only one interested is one already rejected by their members."

But campaign director Stewart Hosie said: "With David Kerr's nomination we have an excellent nominee who I know will work hard to represent people in the constituency.

"With strong connections to the constituency and a strong voice for constituents, David will be an excellent leader for the campaign."

He added: "Labour's decision to leave the people of Glasgow North East without an MP for up to five months is a serious betrayal."