By-election sparks long list for Labour selectors

LABOUR said an "extremelylarge" number of people have put themselves forward to succeedthe late David Cairns as the new MP for Inverclyde.

Twenty-five people have submitted their names for selection in the Inverclyde by-election.

Mr Cairns, who had pancreatitis, died on 9 May. He held the seat for Labour in 2010 with a majority of 14,416.

However, in the nearest equivalent Holyrood constituency, Greenock and Inverclyde, Labour's lead slumped to just 511 in the Scottish Parliament elections last month.

On the list is recently unseated Labour MSP David Whitton.