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Glenrothes by-election: Henry McLeish rules himself out of running



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Published Date: 19 August 2008
HENRY McLeish, the former Scottish First Minister, today ruled himself out as a candidate at a forthcoming by-election.
The ex-Labour leader in Scotland had been linked with the party's nomination for the vacant Westminster seat of Glenrothes after the death of John MacDougall last week.

Mr MacDougall's funeral was held yesterday, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown giving a eulogy for his friend.

Mr McLeish said today he had been approached about standing.

"While I am appreciative of the interest shown, I have decided not to allow my name to go forward," he told Holyrood magazine.

"I hope this will end the speculation and allow the party to concentrate on the selection of the candidate and retaining the seat for Labour.

"Scotland has moved on, the constituency has moved on and I have moved on.

"I feel I have assumed a new role in public life which allows me to work in a number of ways for the future of Scotland."

Mr McLeish has chaired a commission on prisons set up by the SNP government which reported recently and has also served on the broadcasting commission set up by the Nationalist administration.

He said today he also planned to continue writing, broadcasting and lecturing.

"I believe I can be of value to Scotland and the Labour Party from a position outwith elected service," he added.

"These are challenging times but, despite recent setbacks, I am confident Glenrothes remains a winnable seat for Labour.

"Both in the constituency and in the wider arena, I will be happy to provide what support I can."

No date has been set for the by-election.

Labour is defending a majority of 10,664 in a seat next door to Mr Brown's constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, while still reeling from the loss of Glasgow East to the SNP.

Labour suffered a similar electoral disaster in Fife in February 2006 when Dunfermline and West Fife was captured by the Liberal Democrats.

Mr MacDougall died after being diagnosed last year with the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

Mr McLeish was among the mourners at his funeral yesterday, along with the Prime Minister and his wife Sarah.

Mr Brown hailed his friend as a "people's champion" who faced his illness with stoicism.

The full article contains 385 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 19 August 2008 4:04 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Labour Party
 
1

MacGillicuddy,

19/08/2008 16:20:52
Just as well. His fiddle-muddle last time round would just have got in the way. He can console himself with the lottery-win size pension he got for himself as a failed (or rather found-out) First Minister.

Next candidate for the poisoned chalice PLEASE!
2

Jwil,

19/08/2008 16:22:30
Henry McLeish rules himself out of running

Sounds like a re-run of Glasgow East(Send for Curran).
3

Alastair the First,

19/08/2008 16:29:35
Maybe Labour won't bother putting up a candidate. That way they won't lose their deposit.

Maybe Gordon Brown should resign his seat and stand in Glenrothes. That way, he could test his popularity without having to call a general election. Go on Gordon, have you got a spine?....
4

Obese Brit,

KFC 19/08/2008 16:44:10
That should give labour a slight advantage now that this terrible man is not standing.
5

Yeah1,

19/08/2008 16:50:10
#3

"Maybe Gordon Brown should resign his seat and stand in Glenrothes. That way, he could test his popularity without having to call a general election."

Why would he resign his seat and stand in another constituency? Surely if he was going to resign his seat he would then stand in his own seat's subsequent by-election, like David Davis did.
6

a proud doonhamer,

Dumfries 19/08/2008 16:51:58
How many potential candidates have no refused to run? is it four or five?

Times have definitely changed. Now nobody was to run for Labour.

The SNP and the Tories have candidates. They should write the speaker and force an early by-election.
7

,

19/08/2008 17:00:46
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
8

Obese Brit,

Acton/London 19/08/2008 17:01:37
I wish i could have an SNP MP in my constituency. The Labour party or should i add whats left of them are appalling in London.
9

Obese Brit,

Acton/London 19/08/2008 17:02:36
7

You sir are a pig
10

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 19/08/2008 17:02:42
A bliddy re-run of the Glasgow East fiasco.

They really deserve all that is coming their way.
11

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 19/08/2008 17:04:30
Labour need a candidate that has lived and worked in Glenrothes all their life, just like Margaret Curran had in the end of Glasgow.

Hee hee!
12

BIG EYE,

Paisley 19/08/2008 17:12:19
It's now reached the stage where you cannot give a Labour nomination away in a seat with a 10.500 Labour majority!

Can I suggest to the Labour Party a tombola event, or perhaps a raffle or even shortest straw!

How Labour MP's all over the UK must be looking forward to the impending election and an end of all these long journeys to London!
13

jimboo,

glenrothes constituencey 19/08/2008 17:17:26
Can I stand pleeeese pleeese pleees, oh here comes my after dinner medication.
14

jimboo,

glenrothes constituencey 19/08/2008 17:17:29
Can I stand pleeeese pleeese pleees, oh here comes my after dinner medication.
15

jimboo,

Glasgow East II 19/08/2008 17:19:08
do you ever get deja vu
16

weh,

19/08/2008 17:31:46
Mr McLeish has chaired a commission on prisons set up by the SNP government which reported recently and has also served on the broadcasting commission set up by the Nationalist administration."

So-this rag now refers to our SNP govt as the "nationalist" administration!

Does anyone actually BUY this unionist piece of Andrex anymore?


17

,

19/08/2008 17:41:27
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
18

LEAL,

19/08/2008 18:02:15
17 vitesse
Do you really think a little country like Scotland can survive on its own?During the Glasgow East byelection people from England were bused up to convince the Scots that we are incapable of managing our own affairs,presumably beause no one in our country believes the lie anymore.After the humiliation in Glasgow East I dont know how many of them will head North to Glenrothes,but in the interests of fairness I think you should post details of where the Labour campaign office will be.Also,just so we can have a contest,could you ask one of the activists from down south to accept the Labour candidacy?
19

Oldnat,

19/08/2008 18:25:16
"I am confident Glenrothes remains a winnable seat for Labour." (Henry McLeish)

Is that not the sort of comment that a "no hope" party makes before an election?
20

Nikostratos,

19/08/2008 18:48:25
#9 Obese Brit,Acton/London

Oink.Oink.oink.oink,snuffle,snuffle
21

Scimitar,

19/08/2008 18:56:00
Niewe Liebohr's election address -;

Primates Section
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh

No offence to primates.
22

weh,

19/08/2008 19:10:18
Niewe Liebohr's election address -;

Primates Section
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh

No offence to primates."


Priceless!

hahahahahahahaha!
23

weh,

19/08/2008 19:21:10
This is a sassenach blog entitled"should lady thatcher have a state funeral."

Perhaps Scots may care to contribute to this earnest discussion?

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6214838&postID=3728934277345352722
24

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 19/08/2008 19:30:50
That scuttling noise you can hear is all the Labour candidates running for cover.

McLeish at least spared us the pantomime of hearing about his alleged financial improprieties all over again.
25

Climate change is a fraud,

19/08/2008 19:32:53
I'm putting my money on UKIP making big gains in Glenrothes.
26

Truely English,

19/08/2008 19:37:52
Didn't Team GB do well at the Olympics today. Does it not make the Scots proud to be truly British? A sense of pride in the nation never hurt any of us and sustains us for a long time to come.

27

Geoff H,

Fife 19/08/2008 20:10:11
26

Er...no it doesn't
28

tearortwo,

Burton on trent 19/08/2008 20:16:17
I know it is irrational to have strong feelings about where you happen to be born so can anyone explain the tears tripping my cheeks when Chris Hoy won today?
I have lived in England for more than half my life.
What's with this Scottish thing?
29

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 20:16:56
Still reckon Henry McLeish was stitched up by the Labour Party as he was in danger of giving the Scots a feelgood factor.

If he crossed the floor he would walk it for the SNP. His fate was as a result of being too good for Labour and having an independent mind.

Shame about the office though.
30

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 20:19:16
26
Good Evening Truely.

Still insane I see.
31

bully wee alba,

Edinburgh 19/08/2008 20:19:51
Well, perhaps following the difficulties the Labour Party appear to be having finding a candidate willing to stand in the forthcoming by-election, they should consider me?

I have most of the qualifications necessary.

I have lived there for most of my life, (apart from the 98% of my life when I did not live there).

I have visited Dunfermline a few times, and being an Eastender, originally from John Mason’s constituency, I felt quite at home there. (I know where East End Park is).

I have also been to Starks Park, Kirkcaldy, and danced upon the streets of Raith.

On a tour of ancient monuments I recall visiting both Central Park, Cowdenbeath, and yon quaint wee edifice in East Fife, home of Methil FC or someone.

I own a “lang spoon”, and therefore would be able to sup with the natives.

Ahh!, I hear you ask, what does this have to do with Glenrothes?

Well, I have been there on a few occasions also.

Kinda reminiscent of Cumbernauld I thought, but with a few extra roundabouts thrown in for good measure.

Despite having all these relevant qualifications, I suspect that they may not choose me as their preferred candidate.

Not being a member of the Labour Party may be seen by some as a disadvantage, but I would counter that by explaining that I own a few sticks, to which Labour balloons can be attached.
32

Richardinho,

19/08/2008 20:30:24
I wouldn't rule labour out of winning this seat. Surely their bad luck can't continue indefinitely.
Saying that, the big wonder to me is why ANYONE would vote Labour after they doubled our income tax.
33

Derick fae Yell,

The Hoose 19/08/2008 20:57:26
32 as Mr Marx said 'Hey, anny-a-body can make-a mistake!"

Groucho no Karl

Yis Liebor can win. Or not. Up tae da Fifers.
34

beckypumps1,

Fife 19/08/2008 21:10:13
32 I dont think I would call it bad luck. It can only be a good thing for the kingdom to be free of the labour muppets. Its a fight between the SNP and the fence sitters.
35

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 21:13:29
31, Bully Wee, talking about roundabouts at Glenrothes, I worked on the upgrade of the Preston roundabout and the construction of the Markinch roundabout.

Also worked, a few years previously on the new roundabout to Coaltown of Balgownie.

Apologies to Fifers. Fifers, please do not let us down - surely to God you are even more enlightened than Weegies.
36

Eve,

Scotland 19/08/2008 21:15:14
What on earth is stoicism?
37

Geoff H,

Fife 19/08/2008 21:18:00
35

There are Fifers in Glenrothes?

All I've met are Glaswegians...
38

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 21:23:18
37, Geoff. The Balgownie job was Clachan Construction from Perth. Morrison (Anglian Water Group) was the other 2. You don't meet many locals in the middle of road jobs but the paper shops, etc, were alled manned by Fifers - and you got real meat in the pies.
39

Geoff H,

Fife 19/08/2008 21:27:55
Hmmmm...Pies...

HHHMMmmmmmm Pillans pies...'drool'
40

izzie,

dundee 19/08/2008 21:28:20
36 eve stoics are people who advocate views which are at odds with common sense
41

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 21:38:41
38
Jock
Er...what kind of meat...?

And should it no' be pehs?
42

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 21:41:21
Ah, pies. As soon as you get north of the Forth/Clyde divide you get good pies.

Cairneyhill was the first decent pie over the Kincardine Bridge. Decent pies in Perth and Dundee as well. Shame about McIntyre and Wallace.
43

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 21:43:09
Conan, mutton. Peh is Dundeh. Good peh's there too. Even in Meengishill.
44

Silent Hunter,

Fintry, Scotland 19/08/2008 21:48:51
Remind me again............why was it Mr McLeish had to resign as Leader of Scottish Labour?

And Labour think he's a 'fit candidate' to foist upon the people of Fife?

Sounds like Labour are taking their voters for granted again............clearly they've learned nothing from Glasgow East.
45

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 21:51:51
43
Thanks Jock.
My mate must be a Dundonian who just lives in Glenrothes :-(
46

Geoff H,

Fife 19/08/2008 21:52:42
45

He doesnae work in a paper shop then?
47

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 21:55:13
45, Conan. Then he'll understand what all my previous.

Fife's a nice place, in my opinion. Could do with better transport links though.

But that might spoil the pies.
48

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 21:56:03
Henry Mcleish said...

"Scotland has moved on, the constituency has moved on and I have moved on."

Yeh and all for the better Henry..

BTW if my post is a little wet its coz im not long back in and it was pi#sing down. Sunshine in Leith? mir like global warming in Leith.!!
49

The Spook in Leith,

Hail Hail to Hoy Hoy, 3 golds.. 19/08/2008 22:00:20
#47 jock
Fife's a nice place, in my opinion. Could do with better transport links though.

But that might spoil the pies.

WTF are you gibbering on about Jock ?
50

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:00:57
And climate change, Spook, and climate change.

You won't know the difference when the tax is deducted.
51

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:02:01
49, Spook. Fife, dear fellow, Fife - and pies.
52

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:04:35
#51 Jock

Ah i see, Fife pies..i like my pie to be warm and moist..

A Fife butcher has been named as the overall winner at the 2007 World Scotch Pie Championships.
Amos Smith, of WF Stark butchers in Buckhaven, won at his first attempt in a competition which received a record number of entries
53

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:06:09
Ok. Back on topic. McLeish rules himself out of running. What about standing?
54

The Spook in Leith,

Hoy Hoy owns the velodrome 19/08/2008 22:06:58
#36 Eve,Scotland 19/08/2008 21:15:14
What on earth is stoicism?

Hey Eve, good to see you pulling up someone on the old spelling front..hee hee..x
55

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:10:13
Spook, I like my women warm and moist.
56

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 22:12:28
52
Good Evening Spook

Your favourite pie(look closely).

http://tinyurl.com/5fenm7
57

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:13:56
Apart from that, Spook, it is a Pie. Everything else is an attempt to prevent us having a norm in our own country. A Scotch pie is for foreigners. A Pie is indigenous.
58

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:18:46
#55 Jock

lol, same hear, more moist more fun, more fun better sleep, better sleep, better round 2..

Now..#56 Conan, Evening and all hats off.. I have looked at that woman's pie closely and it appears to be crusty, i dont like crusts.
59

Truely English,

19/08/2008 22:21:32
30
Nice to be back to discuss some topics with my fellow Brits.
Didn't Chris Hoy do well for Team GB, we were all there supporting him and the rest of the British Team.
60

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 22:24:01
58
Spook, would that be a mince round 2?

Just read the crusty old thing...
61

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:24:21
Spook, 58, moisturiser for speed. Then you can get to sleep. Must be getting old. And crusty.
62

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:24:45
#59

Indeed, 4 golds so far and Britain's greatest Olympian.

No wander you unionists are hell bent on keeping Scotland with in the UK, lets face it, with out Scotland the union is a bit of a damp squib.

Did you note the big saltire in his home? bless..
63

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:25:52
On yer bike, Truely
64

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:28:57
Fantastic, Chris Hoy beats the Englishman for gold, well done to Hoy Hoy, better luck next time Mr England.

Hey Conan, all i can read is 2006 and pie..
65

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:31:42
#63 Jock Tamson
On yer bike, Truely

hee hee, bet truely was eying up Hoys lunch box.
66

brownlie,

19/08/2008 22:34:03
56 Conan

Evening Conan
Greetings Spook
Did you notice how bright the guy in the background's eye are? I reckon he can smell the pie.
67

brownlie,

19/08/2008 22:34:34
66
bumfluff - should be eyes!
68

Truely English,

19/08/2008 22:35:44
63
It would seem that poor old Jock has two chips on his shoulders rather than the usual one.

Well done to all in Team GB be they Scots, English, Welsh or Irish.
69

brownlie,

19/08/2008 22:39:07
65 Spook

Do you think truely had a union jack?
70

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 22:39:28
65
Well you were eying up her "Hare Pie" @56


71

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:40:21
#66 brownlie

Yes his eyes were like 2 floodlights...

#68..T Eng "Well done to all in Team GB be they Scots, English, Welsh or Irish."

Agreed but did you like when Hoy Hoy tanked the Brit in the velodrome ?
72

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:41:44
#69 brownlie,19/08/2008 22:39:07
65 Spook

Do you think truely had a union jack?

lol yeh and it was over his lap and pitched like a tent.
73

brownlie,

19/08/2008 22:41:53
68 Truely

How significant that you put the countries in descending order!
74

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:44:01
68, Truely. If you think my suggesting that you pee aff this thread for your inane ramblings has anything to do with chips on my shoulders, then I would suggest that you are a complete and utter nutter.

You butt in with absolute nonsense. Are you on night shift newsdesk tonight?
75

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 22:46:45
66
Brownlie, just noticed, lol.

It also looks like she has a small red cockerel on her shoulder.

Freud would love this...
76

The Spook in Leith,

19/08/2008 22:47:23
Argg this debate was just getting interesting and now i have to give up on my slavering..

One has to pick up ones other half from work, well at least i will be getting my pie tonight..hopefully.

Nighty night..x
77

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:50:59
To paraphrase someone. In Fife scenario.

Pie and chips, please (note the please - ok it wuznae Fife).

Eat in or take away?

Just put the pie in ma geggie an the chips on my shoulders.
78

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 22:51:48
Good Night Spook.

Don't let the Hare Pies bite.
79

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:51:52
Sweaty pie, Spook?
80

,

19/08/2008 22:52:31
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
81

Gtj,

19/08/2008 22:58:21
I am sure Margaret Curran would be an ideal candidate for the position, as far as I am aware she has lived in Glenrothes all her life.
82

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 22:58:57
80, Bird of Prey. You're just jealous because Spook can last 2 minutes.
83

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 19/08/2008 23:03:02
81, Gtj, I think you are wrong. Glenrothes is a newtown. Nobody her age has lived there all their lives.

My old, dear departed Uncle Will had Overstenton farm until the mid 50's. Believe the farmhouse is still there.
84

Huntly loon,

Aberdeenshire 19/08/2008 23:17:09
Truly English (note: not "Truly British") seems to have gone all British with regard to Chris Hoy. To win 3 golds in a single Olympics is an outstanding achievement. When in two years time he wins in Delhi, he will wrap himself in the Saltire and it will be in Scotland's medal tally then.

I'm proud of all the British athletes successes, but the proof of the pudding will come in December about what the British public think of Hoy when he goes head to head with Rebecca Adlington for Sports Personality. My hunch is it will be the swimmer as the English voters will favour the English girl over the Scotsman.
Such is the present English envy/dislike of the Scots.
85

weh,

19/08/2008 23:21:47
Apart from that, Spook, it is a Pie. Everything else is an attempt to prevent us having a norm in our own country. A Scotch pie is for foreigners. A Pie is indigenous.

Spot on Jock- this type of put down happens a lot with the EBC, you've probably noticed!
86

Truely English,

19/08/2008 23:25:11
84
Why should the English either envy or dislike the Scots when the Scots are the same as we are; British.

Now if you were French, that is a different matter as they are very different from us here.
87

Geoff H,

Fife 19/08/2008 23:28:18
86

Aye it has to be said...he really is 'Truely' English...

Nuff said.
88

Conan the Librarian™,

19/08/2008 23:31:05
85
Weh, thanks for your url to Mad Iain's thread.
89

Huntly loon,

Aberdeenshire 19/08/2008 23:44:36
Scots and English are the same as Russians and Georgians were once once the same under the Tsarist and then Soviet empires. The Scots have been distinctively different from the English in the same way as the English are from the French. For many years half of France was the possession of the English king, who bore the three fleur-de-lis alongside the three leopards, long after France were rid of the English. Scottish institutions developed differently from English ones. The Scottish reformation was different from the English and European in origin. The Scots law eveolved from the Roman law principles of the continent and remains distinct in its principles from English Law. The education and university systems have always been different. The Scots language still widely spoken diverged from old Saxon at the same time as English diverged from Dutch, German, Friesian and the other Germanic tongues. There are many other differences that three hundred years have not eradicated. There are many similarities but the same can be said of all European nations. English is spoken in both countries but that is not unusual. Many countries speak English worldwide and most speak it as a second language. Britain never developed into a unitary state and the trend now is the reverse. I think the Unionists need to come to terms with the inevitable road to Scottish autonomy.
90

Matt there,

somewhere 19/08/2008 23:50:56
This is like the Amy Winehouse song, Rehab!
HENRY McLeish sings:

"They tried to make me go to Glenrothes, but I said 'no, no, no'"


91

Huntly loon,

Aberdeenshire 19/08/2008 23:58:17
It's a wonder the Unionists are not on complaining that the SNP deliberately abolished the tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges knowing that the MP for Glenrothes was terminally ill as part of their byelection strategy.
92

,

20/08/2008 00:45:30
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
93

Brian Hill,

20/08/2008 01:40:49
no Henry, no chance of labour winning the seat. Henry was their only hope and a slim one at that, if any of the locals stand they will sink like a stone. No Henry = little or no Brown either, he won't want to overly connected with another disaster.

Re Cris Hoy, members of his cycling club in Edinburgh were interviewed tonight in their HQ and I'm delighted to note that not only was there FOUR very large Saltires on the walls, there wasn't a union jack in sight. Oh joy!!
94

,

20/08/2008 12:44:34
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
95

Eve,

Scotland 20/08/2008 20:29:32
#86 Truely English: Really!!!

I've met more French people who have more things than common with me than I have English.

Very odd that what yer saying from my experences.
96

Darien,

Panama 22/08/2008 00:58:37
#86 You just don't get it, do you. The English dislike the French, and vice versa. In fact, the english have an nherent dislike of all things European. Unlike the Scots who have a great regard for the French, and the rest of Europe, and vice versa.

Henry is not as bright as some believe. If he was, he would have jumped ship to the SNP long before now. Bring on the Referendum!

 

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