Ex-city Tory to fight in Glasgow poll

EDINBURGH'S former Tory group leader Iain Whyte is to stand for election as an MSP - in Glasgow.

He has been selected to fight the new Maryhill and Springburn seat after the previous candidate, millionaire Ivor Tiefenbrun, was forced to quit after saying Scots were "thick" for disliking Margaret Thatcher.

Earlier this year, Cllr Whyte, who is convener of Lothian & Borders Police board, failed in a bid to become Conservative candidate for Edinburgh Central and then also lost the selection contest for Edinburgh North & Leith, the seat which includes his Inverleith council ward.

He acknowledged he might be criticised for fighting a Glasgow seat when he was not a Glaswegian, but said he had the experience to promote the Conservative cause and knew the issues of city life.