Boyack turns to list vote to boost re-election chances

Labour's Sarah Boyack is bidding to double her chances of re-election as an MSP at next year's Holyrood elections by standing on the party's Lothians top-up list as well as defending her Edinburgh Central constituency.

The party does not normally allow its candidates to fight both on the list and in a constituency. But major boundary changes mean some well-established MSPs, including Ms Boyack, a former environment and transport minister, could be at risk.

Now Labour's Scottish executive has given the go-ahead for Ms Boyack and fellow MSPs Elaine Murray (Dumfries) and Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen) to run on two fronts.

Ballot papers have been sent to Labour members across the Lothians so they can rank the candidates for the top-up list.

Ms Boyack, an MSP since 1999, argues she should have the top spot as "Labour voters in the Lothians need a strong, experienced voice".

A total of 12 would-be candidates have put their names forward and seven will be chosen to go on next May's ballot paper. Before Ms Boyack was allowed to stand, the favourite for top slot was Labour researcher Kezia Dugdale.

She said: "With all the issues facing the area and services under threat in Edinburgh, we need someone who is committed to campaigning across the region from now to next May."

Other hopefuls include STUC assistant secretary Ann Henderson, Leith Walk councillor Angela Blacklock, Livingston councillor Neil Findlay and Jalal Chaudry, Edinburgh and East of Scotland representative on the Muslim Council of Britain.

Members will be asked to number the candidates in order of preference. Under rules drawn up by Labour's Scottish executive, the top place on the list must go to a female or ethnic minority candidate; second place will be determined by number of votes, irrespective of gender or origin; and after that the names will alternate by gender.

An expert analysis of the boundary changes, using the 2007 election results applied to the 2011 constituencies, suggested Labour would lose Edinburgh Central to the Liberal Democrats by 719 votes.

Until the last election, Labour did not qualify for any MSPs from the Lothians list as it won so many of the first-past-the-post constituency seats. But in 2007, the loss of both Livingston and Edinburgh East & Musselburgh to the SNP meant George Foulkes, who was number one on the list, was elected unexpectedly.

The party is aiming to win back those seats next year, but one insider said: "If there is a serious fall in the SNP vote, there is a chance we will get a (list] seat, regardless of what happens in the constituencies."